Earth Month Ecochallenge: Drawdown

April 1 - April 30, 2021

TAKISHA MCCLAIN

Comerica Texas Green Team

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,109 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

150

conversations

with people
UP TO

3.0

lightbulbs

replaced
UP TO

31

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

255

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

42

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

248

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

75

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill

TAKISHA's actions

Electricity

Solar Water Consultation

Solar Hot Water

I will contact a local installer/distributor to see if a solar water heater makes sense for my house.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Building With Carbon Storing Waste Products

Engineered Sinks

I will spend at least 10 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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Properly Dispose of Refrigerants

Refrigerant Management

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Climate Resilience

Support a Community Garden

Multiple Solutions

I will support a community garden by volunteering, donating, or advocating for a new or existing one.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Accelerating Solutions

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Go for a Daily Walk

Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 15 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Smart Seafood Choices

Ocean Farming

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Forest-Friendly Foods 2

Tropical Forest Restoration

I will replace or remove from my current diet the palm oil, coffee, and cocoa products that are known to contribute to deforestation.

COMPLETED 18
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings

Replace Manual Thermostats

Smart Thermostats

I will replace manual thermostats with smart ones.

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

COMPLETED 23
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Climate Resilience

Tend A Garden

I will tend to a garden, or prepare for one, each day using sustainable gardening practices.

COMPLETED 23
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity

Choose LED Bulbs

LED Lighting

I will replace 3 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Reduce Animal Products

Plant-Rich Diets

I will enjoy 1 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 24
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Keep Track of Wasted Food

Reduced Food Waste

I will keep a daily log of food I throw away during Earth Month Ecochallenge, either because it went bad before I ate it, I put too much on my plate, or it was scraps from food preparation.

COMPLETED 29
DAILY ACTIONS

Health and Education

Start a Social Media Campaign

Health and Education

Through social media, I will raise awareness about gender inequity in education by sharing the information found in the links below.

COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Use Muscle Power

Multiple Transportation Solutions

I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips, and I will only use muscle-powered transportation for all other trips.

COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS

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
Industry Properly Dispose of Refrigerants

How do you address your own feelings of concern, fear or despair about climate change?

TAKISHA MCCLAIN 4/30/2021 8:42 AM

Addressing my concerns about the climate change was challenging at first. I felt myself feeling depressed. I had to make a change in me to see what changes came be made to better the situation. I know work with different groups to better understand how I can feel in control.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks Smart Seafood Choices

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?

TAKISHA MCCLAIN 4/30/2021 8:26 AM

I do think my diet choices fall within the guidelines for Texas. Fish and shellfish are healthful foods that provide a diet high in protein and low in saturated fat and contain nutrients that are important for proper growth and development. I have included more Fish and shrimp in our meals for dieting purposes.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks Forest-Friendly Foods 2

How difficult or easy was it to change your diet?

TAKISHA MCCLAIN 4/30/2021 8:20 AM

It was extremely difficult to change my diet! My husband and I was not on the same page in trying different types of food. I finally was able to get him to try more options during the week. On the weekend, he ate what he wanted and I ensured to include the items that I enjoyed that were healthier for me.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Climate Resilience Support a Community Garden

What are the multiple benefits of community gardens, including carbon sequestration? Why do these benefits matter to you?

TAKISHA MCCLAIN 4/30/2021 7:57 AM

First off, Fruits and vegetables sold in stores are in transit up to 14 days sometimes. By then, some of the fruit or veggies are spoiled and lost. If we grow them locally, it will eliminate the transit time and reduce the waste caused.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation Use Muscle Power

How do your transportation choices affect your engagement in your community? Does your experience or enjoyment differ while walking, riding transit, biking or driving?

TAKISHA MCCLAIN 4/30/2021 6:04 AM

If people can use and access a transportation option flexibly, they will most likely use but some cities its not an option. Gas prices are a major predictor of whether commuters choose to drive or ride transit. I am glad ComeriCA offers ride share in some cities

Read More
TAKISHA MCCLAIN 4/30/2021 5:50 AM

I think this was one of thee best challenges yet for me with Ecochallenge. I think these are habits that will stick with me through to the next challenge.

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TAKISHA MCCLAIN 4/29/2021 5:47 AM

One more day of the challenge... But a lifetime of changes made!

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TAKISHA MCCLAIN 4/28/2021 7:21 AM

Better week for me... So it excited that this journey is getting better and easier. I love that it is creating a habit. Not to mention, my daily walks enjoying the view is refreshing.

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TAKISHA MCCLAIN 4/22/2021 11:41 AM

Missing 1 day to post seem like forever in this challenge world. I did at least do the activities that I signed up for. Looking forward to tomorrow.

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TAKISHA MCCLAIN 4/19/2021 10:18 AM

Cheers to another week of the Ecochallenge! I am looking forward to this week. Looking to get these challenges to become natural for me.

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