Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge

October 1 - October 31, 2023

Adam Moen

Cleveland Clinic Sustainability

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
981 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

48

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

1.0

carbon footprint

calculated
UP TO

5.0

lightbulbs

replaced
UP TO

3.3

pounds of paper

have been saved
UP TO

45

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

41

conversations

with people
UP TO

120

minutes

spent learning

Adam's actions

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants

Farm Irrigation Efficiency

I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of trees and plants in my yard.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Choose LED Bulbs

LED Lighting

I will replace 5 incandescent lightbulbs with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Choose Renewable Energy or Purchase Renewable Energy Credits

Onshore Wind Turbines, Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaics

I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option. If my utility does not offer one, I will purchase Renewable Energy Credits to match my usage.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Power

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

Ocean Power

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Advocate for Solar Installation

Distributed Solar Photovoltaics

I will create a plan to and advocate for solar installation at my business, apartment building, or campus.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Biomass

Biomass Power

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Micro Wind

Micro Wind Turbines

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of micro wind.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Calculate My Household Carbon Footprint

I will calculate the carbon emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Spread the Word about Energy Alternatives

All Electricity Solutions

I will research and tell 1 people each day about the benefits of alternative energy sources like wind turbines, solar energy, geothermal energy, and methane digesters.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Green My Job

Industry

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Learn about Carbon Offsets

I will spend 30 minutes learning about carbon offsets, and why they are a necessary solution in combating a climate crisis.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Properly Dispose of Refrigerants

Refrigerant Management

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Learn About & Practice Sustainable Fashion

Multiple Industry Solutions

I will learn about sustainable fashion and begin practicing it in my own life.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Find a Local Climate-Friendly Supermarket

Refrigerant Management

I will explore the interactive map in the links below to find a supermarket that does not use HFC refrigerants near my home.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Practice the 5 Rs

Recycling

I will practice the "5 Rs" — refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle — to reduce my waste more than I can with just recycling alone.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Industry

Research the Climate Impact of Refrigerants

Refrigerant Management

I will spend 30 minutes learning about the climate impact of refrigerants and what climate-friendly refrigerants are by using the links below.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Reduce Single-Use Disposables

Bioplastics; Reduced Plastics

I will avoid buying and using 1 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Industry

Go Paperless

Recycled Paper

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 0.11lbs (0.05kg) a day or 3.3lbs (1.6kg) a month by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions, and opting out of junk mail.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Choose Recycled Paper

Recycled Paper

I will plan ahead to use paper products only made from post-consumer recycled paper for my home or office.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Reduce Animal Products

Plant-Rich Diets

I will enjoy 1 meatless or vegan meals each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Composting

Composting, Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost or worm bin where I live.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Support Nutrient Management

Nutrient Management

I will research and support local farmers who have made the decision to not use synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

How does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?
Adam Moen 10/25/2023 6:03 AM
Nothing is worse than buying something and having to throw it away when it expires. I feel like I am losing money, and being wasteful. Knowing that many products are still good after some of these dates (since they aren't actually expired) is useful. The important thing is to know how various products look when they ARE expired so you don't get yourself sick. The big thing to is not to leave things out when they should be refrigerated. I know leaving out pasta or pizza for too long will cause the food to go bad even if you refrigerate it later. Gotta be careful.

Read More
- Thomas Saad 10/26/2023 6:21 AM
  I grew up in the 60's. There were no expiration dates on items. On the plus side most of what we ate was fresh from the market :)
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry

How can you express your personality, creativity, and values in ways that don't require fast fashion or buying more clothes and accessories?
Adam Moen 10/23/2023 5:58 AM
I find my pants often tend to rip pretty quickly. But a good solution I've found is buying nicer fabrics that are less likely to rip, or mending them myself. Thank goodness for my mom who taught me how to sew and fix up my clothes. It's saved me a good amount of money and kept the clothes out of landfills.

Read More
- Adam Moen 10/24/2023 5:54 AM
  That's exactly it! I know it's hard to buy more expensive items when cheaper ones are right there. But the long run savings you get are 100% worth it!!
  
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- Thomas Saad 10/24/2023 5:16 AM
  It's sad, fast fashion relies on cheap, disposable clothing that is produced quickly and sold at low prices, encouraging consumers to buy and discard clothing at an alarming rate. As a result, landfills are overflowing with discarded clothing, and textile waste is piling up.
  
  I purchase quality over quantity at the end of the season, saving 75% to 85%.
  
  I purchase quality clothes for my grandchildren and they are hanned down to the younger siblings and cousins. The same goes for toys :)
  
  I purchase quality formal dresses for my daughters which they end up sharing. When they no longer need them we've donated them to charities, (Dress for Sucess and A Night to Remember).
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity

What inspiration and wisdom can you gather from your family, faith, or community traditions that would help you in both communicating about and addressing our most pressing energy issues?
Adam Moen 10/17/2023 5:53 AM
Sometimes the best way to get people to listen is to relate it to them directly. Not in a "in ten years you'll have to" sort of way-- that feels so far off it lacks urgency. But find ways that these energy issues are affecting them now, and how they can make a difference. It can also help to have a starting point for people. Many people like the idea of adjusting their energy consumption or changing to renewable resources, but have no clue where to start so they never do. If you have a spot for them to start ready to go, they're a lot more likely to actually go for it.

Read More
- Thomas Saad 10/18/2023 7:04 AM
  Back to the basics: How can we save energy save the earth?
  Saving energy helps the environment because most power sources produce pollution or greenhouse gases when burned. The less energy you use, the less pollution there will be in the air and water, harming our planet and its inhabitants. When it comes to saving the environment, your daily decisions may feel insignificant.
  
  Read More
Adam Moen 10/13/2023 6:24 AM
This has been one of my favorite challenges so far. I feel like it really pushes you to learn and interact with others. It's a good push towards things that you might of been pushing off because of how much work was involved.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Why do people in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places? How does eating more meat affect our bodies, our planet, and other people?
Adam Moen 10/13/2023 6:21 AM
The more money you have the more you can afford to eat meat on a regularly basis. While this also means you can afford to eat more healthily, that doesn't always happen since we as a society do enjoy yummy food-- which isn't always healthy. Meat isn't unhealthy by itself, but anything in excess is bad. Eating so much meat means that there is a high demand that has to be kept up-- which often involves factory farming which is inhuman and gives animals chemicals that end up in our systems. It also adds to transportation and refrigeration costs/pollution since this meat is transported long distances to cities and other populated areas. I am not sure what the exact solution should be, people have a right to spend their money. But moderating your meat consumption and finding local sources sounds like a good start.

Read More
- Thomas Saad 10/16/2023 6:18 AM
  So true... unfortunately, everyone has the right to spend their money on whatever they want to eat. We fall into habits created by our parents and impacted by society (TV, social media & the people around us).
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry

What do you want to prioritize over material 'stuff' in your own life?
Adam Moen 10/11/2023 6:46 AM
I want to prioritize things that actively make me happy and benefit me. Like my plants, a hobby, or saving up to go on a nice vacation. Things that feel more like an experience rather than just an object.

Read More
- Adam Moen 10/13/2023 6:23 AM
  Plants are like, the best hobby!! lol
  
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- Thomas Saad 10/13/2023 5:50 AM
  Plants are one of my hobbies!
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry

How close is the nearest climate-friendly supermarket to your home? How could you encourage local supermarket to reduce or phase out their use of HFC refrigerants?
Adam Moen 10/10/2023 6:32 AM
Aldi seems to be the only climate friendly store around Cleveland. Which is nice since I always shop there anyways. It feels good to know I am giving my money to a company that cares.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity

After you determined your carbon footprint, did you see what different choices you can make in order to reduce it?
Adam Moen 10/10/2023 6:27 AM
Unfortunately I need a car to get anywhere in my area, so I can't drive less. But I can try to get everything I need in one trip, so I am not constantly driving back and forth from store to store all week. I want to look into getting more renewable electricity, but as a renter I am not sure what steps I am allowed to take.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry

What was the hardest item to reduce using or cut out that is plastic? Did you find a way to do it?
Adam Moen 10/10/2023 6:22 AM
Individually wrapped items for my lunches has been a struggle to cut out or find alternatives for. Fruit snacks, fruit cups, small bags of chips, etc. All these things come in plastic and I use them for my lunches every single day. I've been trying to find alternatives, which has done well somewhat. I buy canned fruit, or fresh, and put it in to go containers that I can re-use (still might be plastic, but not one time only plastic). Same with buying things in larger quantities/large bags, and then making smaller portions on my own. That way the waste is less than it would be otherwise.

Read More
Adam Moen 10/09/2023 6:05 AM
Just brought all my plants inside since it's getting so cold now. I am excited since I didn't realize just how large some of my herbs had gotten. I plan to dry and preserve them this weekend so I can use them in cooking. :)

Read More
- Thomas Saad 10/11/2023 6:25 AM
  Drying herbs is fun and a lot of work.
  
  Read More