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April 1 - April 30, 2021
Julie Sinistore's avatar

Julie Sinistore

WSP & Friends Ecochallengers

"Vegan for health: mine, yours, the planet's and that of all animals"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,940 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    3.0
    donations
    made
  • UP TO
    1.0
    energy audit
    conducted
  • UP TO
    62
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    110
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    71
    minutes
    being mindful
  • UP TO
    1.0
    person
    helped
  • UP TO
    1.0
    public official or leader
    contacted
  • UP TO
    2.0
    trees
    planted
  • UP TO
    72
    zero-waste meals
    consumed

Julie's actions

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Zero-waste Cooking

Reduced Food Waste

I will cook 2 meal(s) with zero-waste each day

COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Climate Resilience

Switch your Search Engine

Ecosia is a search engine with servers that run on 200% renewable energy, plants a tree for every ~45 searches made, and does not sell your data to 3rd parties. See ecosia.org for more information and how to set your search engine default to Ecosia

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Research Cement Alternatives

Alternative Cement

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Choose Recycled Paper

Recycled Paper

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Launch a Recycling Program

Recycling

I will set up a recycling center at my workplace or school.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Become A Master Recycler/Composter

Recycling

I will sign up for a Master Recycler/Composter program in my area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Explore Other Electricity Solutions

All Electricity Solutions

I will spend at least 5 minutes researching other Drawdown Electricity Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Power

I will spend at least 5 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Make it a Habit to Drive for better MPG

By far, the best recommendation to reduce your fuel consumption is to NOT drive your car. Opt to walk or bike when you can. When you have to drive, there are a few habits to be mindful of to reduce your fuel consumption. Avoiding bad driving habits like accelerating too quickly or late braking and using your cruise control more frequently can all improve MPG. To make things more interesting, keep track of your MPG with each tank fill-up and challenge yourself or compete with a friend to improve the results each time. Click below to LEARN more driving habits to reduce your fuel consumption.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Improve the MPG on my existing car.

Not everyone has the pocket book to purchase a new electric, hybrid or 40+ MPG vehicle. But you can still do your part to improve your current vehicle's MPG. Regular maintenance and replacement of a few key items will go a long way toward that goal. Click the LEARN button below to explore what you can do to get the most out of your tank of gas:

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Attend high speed rail presentation

Attend a presentation about CA HSR from my work.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Express My Support For Walkable Cities

Walkable Cities

I will find out who in my city makes decisions that impact neighborhood walkability and express my support for better walking infrastructure.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings

Learn about 'Green Gentrification'

Multiple Solutions

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning about green gentrification and how it relates to city planning for climate action.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings

Research Retrofitting Incentives

Building Retrofitting

I will spend at least 20 minutes finding out if my city, region, state, or country offers incentives for retrofitting existing buildings.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Learn about Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)

Spend 15 minutes and learn about WSP as a leader in helping clients respond to the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Help Students Overcome Health Barriers

Health and Education

I will donate 25 Femme Kit(s) to help people who menstruate overcome health and sanitation barriers to being able to attend school.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Fund Family Planning

Health and Education

I will donate to supply a community with reproductive health supplies.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Explore My Area

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 20 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Plant Trees

Temperate Forest Restoration

I will plant 2 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings

Online Energy Audit

Multiple Solutions

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings

Learn about the Legacy of Redlining

Multiple Solutions

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning about the legacy of redlining and how city planning and environmental justice issues are interconnected.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Properly Dispose of Refrigerants

Refrigerant Management

I will spend at least 5 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.

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

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

Electricity

Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

Methane Digesters

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Support Companies Leading in Green Energy

Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaics, Distributed Solar Photovoltaics

I will use my spending power to reward companies leading in creating or purchasing green energy and incentivize others to invest more in green energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Support Microgeneration in Low Income Countries

Small Hydropower, Micro Wind Turbines, Microgrids

I will make a donation to a nonprofit that installs microgeneration in low income countries.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Run a vedge pledge

I will challenge my coworkers to go vedge for a week and provide support.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Eat Mindfully

I will eat all of my meals without distractions, e.g., phone, computer, TV, or newspaper.

COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Tend A Garden

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

COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

Conservation Agriculture, Regenerative Annual Cropping

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Smaller Portions

Reduced Food Waste

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

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 Research Cement Alternatives
    Concrete is a good example of a material that most of us encounter every day, but its carbon footprint may not be obvious. What other everyday materials might have a large carbon footprint? How can you find out more?

    Julie Sinistore's avatar
    Julie Sinistore 4/30/2021 2:24 PM
    I learned about ways in which carbon dioxide can be captured and added to cement as a for  of long term carbon storage

  • Julie Sinistore's avatar
    Julie Sinistore 4/30/2021 2:23 PM
    While I didn't run a vedge pledge at WSP for Earth Day, I helped my husband run one for the first time at his company.
  • 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?

    Julie Sinistore's avatar
    Julie Sinistore 4/30/2021 2:11 PM
    I find that walking to stores helps me be a more conscious consumer. I will opt not to buy impulse things I probably don't need if I know I have to carry them home on my back.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Sinks Explore My Area
    How can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place -- your deep knowledge of and appreciation for your surroundings?

    Julie Sinistore's avatar
    Julie Sinistore 4/30/2021 2:07 PM
    Getting out into nature doesn't just have to be a hike in the woods, it could be in your own neighborhood.  I am really enjoying how many flowers are blooming in so many different colors right around the block from me. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Sinks Plant Trees
    How is planting trees good for your mental, physical, and spiritual health?

    Julie Sinistore's avatar
    Julie Sinistore 4/30/2021 1:00 PM
    It has been so amazing to plant 5 trees this year and help others plant another 2 trees. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture
    Clean air, clean water and healthy food are just three reasons to care about regenerative agriculture. What are some other reasons? How could/does regenerative agriculture positively impact you and your community?

    Julie Sinistore's avatar
    Julie Sinistore 4/30/2021 12:59 PM
    Regenerative agriculture is problematic in the sense that it doesn't have a firm definition or set of standard practices the way that organic was now about 25 years ago. I feel that it needs more definition in order to ensure that it is not just a marketing claim slapped on unsustainable products to give people the false sense of security that they are doing something sustainable by buying these products. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Tend A Garden
    Have you ever had a significant experience in nature that altered your perspective or focus? If so, please describe it.

    Julie Sinistore's avatar
    Julie Sinistore 4/30/2021 12:57 PM
    I have really been enjoying starting the garden this year. It's still too cool out to put out a lot of different plants, but the greens are coming along well and I think I'll have some fresh spinach and chard to eat soon!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Eat Mindfully
    Mindful eating is healthier for us than eating with distractions. How does your eating experience differ when practicing mindfulness?

    Julie Sinistore's avatar
    Julie Sinistore 4/30/2021 12:55 PM
    Eating mindfully is so important to avoid over eating and to ensure that we actually enjoy the amazing food we consume because our food relies on a careful balance of the environment and human effort and, in some cases, other beings gave their lives for you to eat.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Electricity Calculate My Carbon Footprint
    What stood out to you most about your carbon footprint? What surprised you or sparked curiosity? Where can you take most immediate action?

    Julie Sinistore's avatar
    Julie Sinistore 4/30/2021 12:53 PM
    I like to calculate my carbon footprint as I am today, a vegan person, and if I wasn't vegan, but everything else was the same and being vegan cuts my carbon footprint by half compared to an average animal product eating diet! What a huge difference one simple choice makes!
  • 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?

    Julie Sinistore's avatar
    Julie Sinistore 4/30/2021 12:50 PM
    I think this is a really important topic and point of overlap and intersection between sustainability and racial justice that illustrates that we cannot solve problems of climate change for some and not others. We must find intersectional solutions.