Earth Month Ecochallenge: Drawdown

April 1 - April 30, 2021

Ashley Armstrong

Asheville High School Spring 2021!

"My mission is to help the earth more"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
266 TOTAL

Ashley's actions

Buildings

Learn about 'Green Gentrification'

Multiple Solutions

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning about green gentrification and how it relates to city planning for climate action.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Power

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

Methane Digesters

I will watch a video about methane digesters (also commonly known as anaerobic digesters).

UNCOMPLETED
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

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

Calculate My Carbon Footprint

All Drawdown Solutions

I will calculate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce my negative impact on the environment.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Research Peatlands

Peatland Protection and Rewetting

I will spend 30 minutes researching the environmental benefits of peatlands and what is being done around the world to conserve and restore them.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Research the Climate Impact of Refrigerants

Refrigerant Management

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Bioplastics

Bioplastics are a promising solution to plastic waste and climate change… but they aren’t necessarily sustainable. Find out why!

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 5 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Accelerating Solutions

Support Local Food Systems

Plant-Rich Diets

I will source 15 percent of my food from local producers each day. This could include signing up for a local CSA, buying from a farmer's market, visiting a food co-op, foraging with a local group, or growing my own ingredients.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Sinks

Learn about Temperate Forests

Temperate Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 25 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

Tropical Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Learn More about Silvopasture

Silvopasture

I will spend at least 20 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

Health and Education

I will spend at least 47 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Learn about the Need for Family Planning

Health and Education

I will spend at least 34 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

UNCOMPLETED
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
Buildings Learn about 'Green Gentrification'

Cities and towns need to plan for climate change. How can your city or town make its climate action plans equitable and socially just?

Ashley Armstrong 4/30/2021 9:03 AM

My city can make its climate action plans equitable and socially just by fundraising a ton and figuring out what needs most attention. Once we figure out what needs most attention we can fix the bigger issues first which in turn will also help the smaller issues.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Learn More About Geothermal Energy

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?

Ashley Armstrong 4/30/2021 7:24 AM

The money investment seems most feasible for me. Although it will require a lot of money, saving our planet is more important .

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

What does your vision of a sustainable community look like? What would need to be changed in order for such vision to become reality?

Ashley Armstrong 4/28/2021 7:12 PM

My vision of a sustainable community looks like everyone living off of what nature gives them. So, by reusing, recycling, and reducing all materials and food we can have a sustainable community. In order for my vision to become reality everyone needs to start coming up with ideas on how to shift from a fossil fuel based system to a bio gas system.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Learn More about Biomass

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!

Ashley Armstrong 4/27/2021 8:53 AM

I had kinda heard about bio mass technology before but not really. I learned that bio mass is the solution to converting to clean energy.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry Research the Climate Impact of Refrigerants

What did you learn about the climate impact of refrigerants? How do supermarkets contribute to this impact?

Ashley Armstrong 4/26/2021 10:44 AM

The climate impact is from the resources that are needed to make food. Since green house gases and many other resources are being used and exhausted to make food, then they are being wasted because we don't even eat all the food and throw it out. Supermarkets contribute to this by thinking we have to keep coming back to get more food because of expiration dates.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry Reduce Single-Use Disposables

What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?

Ashley Armstrong 4/26/2021 10:40 AM

Instead of using plastic bags I could use reusable ones.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks Research Peatlands

Much of Indonesia's peatlands have been drained so they could be replaced with palm oil or pulp and paper plantations. How can you make choices that help to protect peatlands, even if you live far away from one?

Ashley Armstrong 4/26/2021 10:39 AM

I can reduce my use of palm oil because if people start reducing there use of it then there wouldn't be a need for a thousand plantations.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Accelerating Solutions Support Local Food Systems

Dependable fresh food, supporting local farmers and building resilient communities are just a few benefits of local food systems. Which of these (or other) advantages inspire you the most?

Ashley Armstrong 4/22/2021 8:49 AM

The one that inspires me the most is the supporting local farmers because it not only helps the economy in our community but also is healthier then processed foods.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry Bioplastics

What concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.

Ashley Armstrong 4/22/2021 8:46 AM

The thing that most concerns me is the amount of green house gases we are releasing into our atmosphere globally. Locally I am concerned about the everyday trash that is put on the ground.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks Learn about Temperate Forests

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?

Ashley Armstrong 4/20/2021 8:55 AM

My thinking has changed because I now see that the world needs a lot more help. My actions have changed because I know am trying to help out the world more. There is so much to be done which is what feels overwhelming however, knowing there are things to do makes me feel hopeful,

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