Earth Month Ecochallenge: Drawdown

April 1 - April 30, 2021

MARIA ALBULESCU

Walgreens Boots Alliance

"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

UP TO

1.0

public official or leader

contacted
UP TO

120

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

54

zero-waste meals

consumed
UP TO

56

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

2,025

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

275

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched

MARIA's actions

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 30
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Zero-waste Cooking

Reduced Food Waste

I will cook 1 meal(s) with zero-waste each day

COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
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).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Biomass

Biomass Power

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED 30
DAILY 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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Accelerating Solutions

What do you like most about biking in your city? What would you like to improve?
MARIA ALBULESCU 4/26/2021 6:44 PM
I 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.

Read More
MARIA ALBULESCU 4/26/2021 6:29 PM
EcoChallenge ends Friday. Let’s finish strong!

Read More
MARIA ALBULESCU 4/25/2021 7:01 PM
“Look deep into nature & you will understand everything better”- Albert Einstein

Read More
MARIA ALBULESCU 4/25/2021 6:58 PM
Many 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.

Read More
MARIA ALBULESCU 4/25/2021 6:43 PM
Ideas for how we can help with climate change.
https://www.gatesnotes.com/Energy/What-you-can-do-to-fight-climate-change

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?
MARIA ALBULESCU 4/25/2021 6:36 PM
Temperate 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.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity

What 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 PM
A 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.

Read More
MARIA ALBULESCU 4/22/2021 4:04 AM
Happy 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!

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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?
MARIA ALBULESCU 4/22/2021 3:57 AM
Geothermal 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.

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!
MARIA ALBULESCU 4/21/2021 7:36 PM
Biomass 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.

Read More