Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge

October 1 - October 31, 2023

Tricia Jones

One Comerica Ecochallenge Team

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
892 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

11

lightbulbs

replaced
UP TO

585

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

1.0

donation

made
UP TO

4.0

advocacy actions

completed
UP TO

3.0

public officials or leaders

contacted
UP TO

1.0

tree

planted
UP TO

145

minutes

spent learning

Tricia's actions

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Smart Seafood Choices

Ocean Farming

I will visit seafoodwatch.org and download the app to commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Research the Climate Impact of Refrigerants

Refrigerant Management

I will spend 15 minutes learning about the climate impact of refrigerants and what climate-friendly refrigerants are by using the links below.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

Ocean Power

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Plastics Audit

Reduced Plastics

I will complete a plastics audit to see where plastics show up in my life and determine how I can reduce the use of single-use plastics.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Industry

Learn about Carbon Offsets

I will spend 15 minutes learning about carbon offsets, and why they are a necessary solution in combating a climate crisis.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Communicate With My Elected Officials

Onshore Wind Turbines, Offshore Wind Turbines

I will write or call 3 elected officials telling them not to support fossil fuel subsidies and instead support wind energy generation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Choose LED Bulbs

LED Lighting

I will replace 10 incandescent lightbulbs with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Green My Job

Industry

Using Drawdown's Job Function Action Guide, I will learn about climate actions I can take at work.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail

High-Speed Rail

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Go for a Daily Walk

Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 30 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

Conservation Agriculture, Regenerative Annual Cropping

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Biomass

Biomass Power

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Research Cement Alternatives

Alternative Cement

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Fund Family Planning

Family Planning and Education

I will donate to supply a community with reproductive health supplies.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Plant Trees

Temperate Forest Restoration

I will plant 1 trees in my community, public parks, or backyard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn about Local Indigenous Practices

Indigenous Peoples' Forest Tenure

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning how local indigenous tribes are caring for the land by participating in a training, workshop, or presentation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Smaller Portions

Reduced Food Waste

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Learn about Biochar

Biochar Production

I will spend 15 minutes learning about biochar and how it can help sequester carbon.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry

What did you learn about the climate impact of refrigerants? How do supermarkets contribute to this impact?
Tricia Jones 10/31/2023 7:58 AM
Who knew? I remember when the globe joined together to ban CFCs to save the Ozone layer - I hope we, as a planet, can band together with same joint goal to solve for the climate crisis!
I signed up to report refrigerant codes at local grocery stores - I have 5 stores within a mile of me! Most interested in how Central Market and Whole Foods rate in Dallas. Kudos to Aldi and WF for topping the overall list in reducing HFCs - but still a lot more work to do!!

Read More
Tricia Jones 10/31/2023 5:55 AM
Great EcoChallenge, I got behind - but I'm so much farther ahead in motivation and in making daily eco-conscience decisions!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Clean air, clean water and healthy food are just three reasons to care about regenerative agriculture. What are some other reasons? How could/does regenerative agriculture positively impact you and your community?
Tricia Jones 10/30/2023 6:55 AM
Did I cheat? I learned about Restorative Aquaculture instead!! Univ of TX Rio Grand Valley (RGV) teamed up with Enbidge and are growing a reef off the Tx Coast. The artificial reef is primarily built of recycled concrete and designed to shelter various species throughout all stages of life. Results: the reef’s structure, the bottom or sediment, and the biomass, fish and other marine life in the water column is trapping CO2 and fish populations are beginning to rebound!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation

What are the factors that influence your choice of transportation? These can include things like money, time, and convenience, as well as perceptions of danger or safety. What would need to change for you to regularly choose more climate-friendly options?
Tricia Jones 10/30/2023 6:40 AM
When airports shut down on 9/11 and people were stranded all over the country, it really struck me that we need high speed rail. In Texas, there was a plan for Dallas to Austin to San Antonio and Dallas to Houston. Dallas to Houston my move forward with only a few issues of eminent domain outstanding. Prop 1 on the current ballot "Right to Farm" does allow for state to enforce eminent domain but formalizes some protections for farm, ranch, wildlife preserves and is supported by the National Wildlife Federation. Hopefully it will pass and hopefully it will strike the right balance and allow for best path to high speed rail and land/wildlife preservation going forward.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

What did you learn about indigenous peoples' land management that you can apply in your own life?
Tricia Jones 10/30/2023 6:30 AM
2 PBS docs - one on forest management, how native Americans in the west are working with US Govt to reclaim forest land and manage native burn practices and to clean up a NW coastal community and influence national marine protected areas. Another was about the Iroquois tribes impact on early America which contained segments on crops (3 sisters = corn, squash, beans planted together) and when and how they hunted compatible with seasons so that they got what they needed without depleting animal populations

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity

What inspires you to act on sustainable energy and other energy issues?
Tricia Jones 10/30/2023 6:21 AM
Find and contact elected officials | USAGov
https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials/

It doesn't seem like elected officials really listen sometimes, laws pass despite national polling indicating Americans feel the other way - but all politics are local in the end and our politicians do need to hear from us on what is important to us!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Many states and countries have advisories on eating fish. Find out what is advised for your region. Do you think your diet choices fall within these guidelines? What steps do you need to take to make sure that they do?
Tricia Jones 10/30/2023 6:16 AM
When I was in the Peace Corp in Micronesia, I began to see some of the issues with overfishing and plastic pollution. At the grocery store, I now see fish as an occasional splurge at Whole Foods, in season only, wild caught, sustainable. I did watch a documentary about inland Salmon farming - don't know how I feel about that yet. May be a great answer to feeding humans but jury is out - need to learn more.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation

What have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?
Tricia Jones 10/30/2023 6:09 AM
I love that Dallas is adding more park space and extending the Katy Trail!! While the city is ever growing - so is the greenbelt!! Texas State Parks recognized as best in the country!

Fall Classic - Go Rangers!!

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Tricia Jones 10/26/2023 8:25 AM
Oh my gosh - it's almost over! I have some one-time actions to get caught up on this weekend.

on another note: GO TEXAS RANGERS!!!

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- Kerry Keck 10/26/2023 10:07 AM
  Your team definitely deserved to advance. My Astros just didn’t bring their A Game; your Rangers did.
  
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- Lenora Andrews 10/26/2023 8:33 AM
  Me too Tricia. I felt I did okay, But, felt I could have participated more. GO TEXAS RANGERS!!!.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry

What actions will you take to green your job?
Tricia Jones 10/24/2023 6:20 AM
Train to work - check! Bring lunch in reusable container - partial check! Reusable drink containers - check! Recycle - check! Reduce paper -
major check! Green team - check!

Stairs instead of elevators - working on it!!

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- Lenora Andrews 10/26/2023 8:36 AM
  Thanks Tricia about the baking soda to filtered water! I will try that suggestion.
  
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- Lenora Andrews 10/26/2023 8:15 AM
  Great work Tricia. I purchased glass lunch containers online many years ago or you can pick some in stores like Walmart or Meijer. They are healthier and don't leach BPA (a harmful chemical) like regular plastic containers do. I like Alkaline water so need to find somewhere to purchase Alkaline water locally because I buy it in BPA-free plastic bottles! And paper, I am either recycling or scanning to have procedural documents ready to pull up. Love stairs instead of elevators; definitely feel the burn when walking up stairs!
  
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- Vanessa Alexa 10/24/2023 6:41 AM
  Way to go! So inspiring!
  
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