Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge

October 1 - October 31, 2023

Marion Sim

Asheville High School

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
706 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

366

minutes

spent learning

Marion's actions

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Research the Wonders of Macroalgae / Seaweed

Macroalgae Protection and Restoration

Each day, I will spend at least 8 minutes learning more about protecting and restoring macroalgae/seaweed.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity

Learn More about Micro Wind

Micro Wind Turbines

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of micro wind.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn About Aquaculture

Improved Aquaculture

Each day, I will spend at least 7 minutes learning about sustainable aquaculture.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Industry

Research the Climate Impact of Refrigerants

Refrigerant Management

I will spend 51 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 Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Power

I will spend at least 40 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Biomass

Biomass Power

I will spend at least 21 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

COMPLETED
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 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Sinks

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

Tropical Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 42 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 16 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Learn More about Silvopasture

Silvopasture

I will spend at least 15 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Learn about Temperate Forests

Temperate Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 19 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?

REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

What was the most interesting thing to learn about sustainable aquaculture practices?
Marion Sim 10/31/2023 7:45 PM
I think while learning about aquaculture, it was interesting to learn what it even was. I had no idea what aquaculture was until I started this eco challenge. It was interesting to learn about how much goes into this and how normal aquaculture can have a negative effect on the environment because it is pretty much the ocean equivalent to livestock farms, but if it is done differently, can have some really good effects for the environment.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks

As you learn more about the scope and seriousness of the environmental challenges we face, what impact does that have on your thinking and actions? What are the parts that feel overwhelming? What parts help you feel hopeful?
Marion Sim 10/31/2023 8:11 AM
I think learning about these environmental challenges and really learning about them in depth makes me feel more drawn to learning even more about these issues. I don’t know if any of it was too overwhelming. I think at this point it is not surprising that these things are happening. It brings hope that at least some countries are putting environmental protection policies into place.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks

Had you heard of the term "silvopasture" before now? After learning more about it, what do you think is the biggest advantage of silvopasture?
Marion Sim 10/31/2023 7:44 AM
Before today, I hadn't heard of the term silvopasture. I think what sounds like the biggest advantage of silvopasture is that the animals would live with not much stress, and that the forest would benefit from the animals living there.

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?
Marion Sim 10/31/2023 7:23 AM
I think the hardest item to cut out was food wrappers. I haven't found a way to completely cut it out, but I have been able to at least partially reduce it by bringing snacks like apples in a reusable bag.

Read More
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?
Marion Sim 10/30/2023 7:11 PM
Knowing the difference between the use by, sell by, and best by allows me to feel better about eating things after they pass that date. I have always feel gross eating foods that go past this date, but now I feel better about eating those items.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks

How is your diet currently impacting deforestation? What can you do to decrease your negative impact and increase your positive impact?
Marion Sim 10/30/2023 7:46 AM
I think that I use a lot of palm oil products. It is surprising that so many foods that are snacks use palm oil, and that things like toothpaste and showers have palm oil in them. I don’t know for sure how to decrease the negative impact of using toothpaste, but I could refrain from eating as many foods like cheetos and chocolates.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity

Had you ever heard of biomass technology before you took this challenge? What did you learn that surprised you? Share your new knowledge with your friends!
Marion Sim 10/25/2023 8:06 AM
Last school year, when we were learning about energy, I learned a bit about biomass technology. Now I know more about the process of how biomass is transformed into biofuels, which I thought was interesting. It seems that a lot of renewable energy sources rely on turbines somewhere in the process to create energy.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity

Geothermal energy is reliable, abundant, and efficient. Project Drawdown states that public investment will play a crucial role in its expansion. In what ways (i.e. with money, time, advocacy) can you invest in geothermal energy?
Marion Sim 10/24/2023 7:47 AM
For passive geothermal, lawmakers can give property owners incentives, like tax credits, which will reduce the money they spend out of pocket, to get passive geothermal installed in their own buildings.

For active geothermal, lawmakers can pass policies that help businesses pay for large scale geothermal power plants to be built.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

What did you learn about seaweed and its importance to coastal ecosystems?
Marion Sim 10/06/2023 6:21 PM
Today I learned that macroalgae (commonly known as seaweed) is a fast growing marine plant that can store high amounts of carbon. Macroalgae is found all throughout the ocean, but the amount of macroalgae in the ocean is decreasing because of human activity and climate change.

Read More
- Jeanne Poirier 10/06/2023 8:16 PM
  Picked this as a daily action as I really did not know much about it. WOW - it's amazing and encouraging. Don't stop looking at it - there is incredible potential for healing ourselves and the planet here. I have been astounded.
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity

Micro turbines can be placed on large structures to take advantage of stronger, steadier breezes. The Eiffel Tower now sports vertical axis turbines that produce electricity for use on site. Where could micro turbines potentially be installed in your city?
Marion Sim 10/06/2023 7:29 AM
If microwind turbines were to be installed in my city, they would be able to go on the sides of some of the buildings downtown, and maybe around the mall or outlets. Maybe also in parks with a wide open space.

Read More