Bicycles are on the rise as cities attempt to reduce traffic, and infrastructure is essential for supporting safe, pleasant, and abundant bicycle use. With more infrastructure come more riders and safety needs to improve.
MARIA ALBULESCU
"Connect with like-minded people to learn and take action to create more environmental and social good, together. "
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,518 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0documentarywatched
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UP TO2,025minutesspent exercising
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UP TO275minutesspent learning
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UP TO120minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO56plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO1.0public official or leadercontacted
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UP TO54zero-waste mealsconsumed
MARIA's actions
Action Track: Accelerating Solutions
Express My Support For Equitable Biking Infrastructure
Bicycle Infrastructure
I will find out who in my city makes decisions that impact bike routes and express my support for better biking infrastructure.
Transportation
Go for a Daily Walk
Walkable Cities
I will take a walk for 60 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Zero-waste Cooking
Reduced Food Waste
I will cook 1 meal(s) with zero-waste each day
Industry
Reduce Single-Use Disposables
Bioplastics
Cheap, single-use items and disposable packaging end up blowing around as litter more often in poor and BIPOC-majority neighborhoods. I will avoid buying and using 2 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.
Buildings
Learn about 'Green Gentrification'
Multiple Solutions
I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about green gentrification and how it relates to city planning for climate action.
Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks
Building With Carbon Storing Waste Products
Engineered Sinks
I will spend at least 60 minutes researching how people can build with carbon-storing materials - including agricultural byproducts - and discuss it with my peers in person or by posting to social media.
Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks
Learn about Biochar
Biochar Production
I will spend 30 minute(s) learning about biochar and how it can help sequester carbon.
Industry
Learn About & Practice Sustainable Fashion
Multiple Industry Solutions
I will learn about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.
Industry
Practice the 5 R's
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.
Land Sinks
Explore My Area
Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 120 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.
Land Sinks
Research Peatlands
Peatland Protection and Rewetting
I will spend 60 minutes researching the environmental benefits of peatlands and what is being done around the world to conserve and restore them.
Land Sinks
Learn about Temperate Forests
Temperate Forest Restoration
I will spend at least 60 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.
Electricity
Learn More About Geothermal Energy
Geothermal Power
I will spend at least 60 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.
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.
Electricity
Learn More about Biomass
Biomass Power
I will spend at least 60 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.
Electricity
Watch a Video about Methane Digesters
Methane Digesters
I will watch a video about methane digesters (also commonly known as anaerobic digesters).
Health and Education
Support Businesses Owned by Women, BIPOC, or Immigrants
Sustainable Intensification for Smallholders
I will spend 60 minutes researching businesses owned by women, immigrants, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color that I can support when shopping.
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?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Accelerating Solutions Express My Support For Equitable Biking InfrastructureWhat do you like most about biking in your city? What would you like to improve?
MARIA ALBULESCU 4/26/2021 6:44 PMI love biking, but I don’t feel safe biking in the city. I don’t think the bike lanes are well designed. I also feel nervous driving along a bike lane because the tight space between the car and bike.
Bicycles are on the rise as cities attempt to reduce traffic, and infrastructure is essential for supporting safe, pleasant, and abundant bicycle use. With more infrastructure come more riders and safety needs to improve.
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MARIA ALBULESCU 4/26/2021 6:29 PMEcoChallenge ends Friday. Let’s finish strong! -
MARIA ALBULESCU 4/25/2021 7:01 PM“Look deep into nature & you will understand everything better”- Albert Einstein -
MARIA ALBULESCU 4/25/2021 6:58 PMMany people spend workdays indoors under fluorescent lights and in front of computers.Research suggests it's important to make time to get outdoors since it is beneficial — maybe essential — for human health.Spending time in forests, hiking in mountains, and just being outside can lead to significant health benefits.Studies have shown that walking in the woods can improve blood pressure, boost mental health, and decrease cancer risk. -
MARIA ALBULESCU 4/25/2021 6:43 PMIdeas for how we can help with climate change.
https://www.gatesnotes.com/Energy/What-you-can-do-to-fight-climate-change -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand Sinks Learn about Temperate ForestsAs 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?
MARIA ALBULESCU 4/25/2021 6:36 PMTemperate forests continue to be fragmented by development. They also are experiencing hotter and more frequent droughts, longer heat waves, and more severe wildfires, as well as worsening insect and pathogen outbreaks. These disturbances can push temperate forests beyond their capacity for resilience. Restoration efforts will need to continue evolving in response, yet restoration is no replacement for protection. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONElectricity Watch a Video about Methane DigestersWhat does your vision of a sustainable community look like? What would need to be changed in order for such vision to become reality?
MARIA ALBULESCU 4/23/2021 7:08 PMA sustainable community is a community that is planned, built, or modified to promote sustainable leaving, focuses on environmental and economic sustainability urban infrastructure and social equity. -
MARIA ALBULESCU 4/22/2021 4:04 AMHappy Earth Day!
Throughout Earth Month, we celebrate all of you who find time to create positive impact for this planet - our home - and the people and creatures living on it.
Make everyday earth day! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONElectricity Learn More About Geothermal EnergyGeothermal 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?
MARIA ALBULESCU 4/22/2021 3:57 AMGeothermal energy is used in over 20 countries. The United States is the largest producer of geothermal energy in the world, and hosts the largest geothermal field.The energy source is also prevalent in Iceland, where it has been used since 1907. The country produces 25% of its energy from five geothermal power plants. This is due to the 600 hot springs and 200 volcanoes in the country.
Geothermal energy can have a positive effect by reducing the use of energy sources that may have negative effects on the environment.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONElectricity Learn More about BiomassHad 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!
MARIA ALBULESCU 4/21/2021 7:36 PMBiomass is plant or animal material used as fuel to produce electricity or heat. Examples are wood, energy crops and waste from forests, yards, or farms.
Biomass continues to be an important fuel in many countries, especially for cooking and heating in developing countries. The use of biomass fuels for transportation and for electricity generation is increasing in many developed countries as a means of avoiding carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel use.