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April 1 - April 30, 2021
Andrew McGregor's avatar

Andrew McGregor

DLR Group - Chicago

"Mixtape portland enamel pin migas. Live-edge meditation palo santo gentrify post-ironic 8-bit messenger bag, polaroid hexagon bitters viral single-origin coffee subway tile hella salvia. Venmo 3 wolf moon glossier, readymade ethical pabst franzen single-origin coffee salvia crucifix man braid hexagon plaid DIY. Hammock whatever banh mi pinterest etsy 8-bit aesthetic readymade."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,524 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    conversation
    with a person
  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    1.0
    energy audit
    conducted
  • UP TO
    59
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    1,095
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • UP TO
    340
    minutes
    spent learning

Andrew's actions

Buildings

Explore Other Buildings Solutions

All Buildings Solutions

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching other Drawdown Buildings Solutions.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings

Research Heat Pumps

High-Efficiency Heat Pumps

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Explore Other Transportation Solutions

All Transportation Solutions

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching other Drawdown Transportation Solutions.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Explore Other Electricity Solutions

All Electricity Solutions

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching other Drawdown Electricity Solutions.

UNCOMPLETED
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.

UNCOMPLETED
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

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.

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

Transportation

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

Electric Cars, Hybrid Cars

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

Health and Education

I will spend at least 30 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 15 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Research Cement Alternatives

Alternative Cement

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips

Bioplastics

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 1 friends, family and/or colleagues.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Properly Dispose of Refrigerants

Refrigerant Management

I will spend at least 15 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

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.

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 Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Power

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Climate Resilience

Learn More about Silvopasture

Silvopasture

I will spend at least 30 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Climate Resilience

Local Perennial Biomass

Perennial Biomass Production

I will spend at least 30 minutes finding out if anyone is working on perennial biomass projects in my region and how I can get involved.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Accelerating Solutions

Conduct Virtual Meetings

Telepresence

I will encourage my office to hold meetings virtually whenever possible instead of requiring travel.

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 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Reduce Animal Products

Plant-Rich Diets

I will enjoy 2 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 26
DAILY ACTIONS

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Building With Carbon Storing Waste Products

Engineered Sinks

I will spend at least 30 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

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

Buildings

Plan to Insulate

Insulation

I will find out how to make my home more energy efficient through better insulation and weatherization.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Go Paperless

Recycled Paper

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 0.11lbs (0.05kg) a day or 3.3lbs (1.6kg) a month by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Climate Resilience

Learn More about Biomass

Biomass Power

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Climate Resilience

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Climate Resilience

Support Businesses Owned by Women, BIPOC, or Immigrants

Sustainable Intensification for Smallholders

I will spend 30 minutes researching businesses owned by women, immigrants, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color that I can support when shopping.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

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
    Electricity Support Companies Leading in Green Energy
    Every dollar you put into solar or wind is a dollar not put into traditional financial institutions. You'll also be bolstering the fossil fuel divestment movement, too. Name some companies you know that invest in green energy. How can you support them?

    Andrew McGregor's avatar
    Andrew McGregor 4/30/2021 1:01 PM
    Our local Aldi store replaced its old store with a new store incorporating a large PV array on the roof.  We predominantly shop here and like that they are taking steps to reduce their impact.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Action Track: Climate Resilience Learn More about Silvopasture
    Had you heard of the term "silvopasture" before now? After learning more about it, what do you think is the biggest advantage of silvopasture?

    Andrew McGregor's avatar
    Andrew McGregor 4/30/2021 10:24 AM
    I have never heard of silvopasture.  I think the biggest advantages are the diversification of crops for the farmer and the overlap in benefits for the crops themselves. If there is a bad season in one of the crops hopefully they can sustain off of the other crops.
  • 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?

    Andrew McGregor's avatar
    Andrew McGregor 4/30/2021 7:35 AM
    I didn’t realize leaks were such a big impact and that the average leak rate for the supermarket sector was 25% which sounds high.  I found the Supermarket scorecard fascinating and didn’t realize how many chains had violated the clean air act in the past few years.  You think about refrigerants in your house, but supermarkets are such a bigger scale. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Buildings Online Energy Audit
    What are your next steps for saving energy?

    Andrew McGregor's avatar
    Andrew McGregor 4/30/2021 6:52 AM
    Our home is pretty good in terms on energy savings.  Improvements can be made in our water conservation by installing faucet aerators, installing toilet tanks and in the future switching to dual flush toilets. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Action Track: Climate Resilience Local Perennial Biomass
    Climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe states that "The reason we care about climate change is because it affects the people and places that we care about." What is happening (or will happen) in your area that will affect the people and places you care about?

    Andrew McGregor's avatar
    Andrew McGregor 4/30/2021 6:30 AM
    I’m from Miami, so the threat of sea level rising is a very tangible issue.  The warming of the ocean leading to a great amount of stronger hurricanes is another effect of climate change that affects my hometown and friends.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Industry Go Paperless
    What do you want to prioritize over material 'stuff' in your own life?

    Andrew McGregor's avatar
    Andrew McGregor 4/30/2021 6:25 AM
    I tend to prioritize experiences over material "stuff".  This mainly ends up being food and treats.  For my wife its travel.
  • 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?

    Andrew McGregor's avatar
    Andrew McGregor 4/30/2021 6:16 AM
    Non-architects might not encounter it daily, but certain types of insulation come to mind.  Rockwool takes very high temperatures to create which has been a criticism of an otherwise beneficial product.  
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Industry Properly Dispose of Refrigerants
    How do you address your own feelings of concern, fear or despair about climate change?

    Andrew McGregor's avatar
    Andrew McGregor 4/29/2021 12:31 PM
    I assure myself that I can do my part, I hope that others will do theirs, and I have confidence that ingenuity and adaptability will prevail.  It’s unfortunately not going to be perfect but I can’t let fear deter me.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Industry Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips
    What concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.

    Andrew McGregor's avatar
    Andrew McGregor 4/29/2021 12:30 PM
    That there are some terrible impacts that can’t be undone.  It’s terrifying and sad.  
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks Building With Carbon Storing Waste Products
    How feasible do you think it is for society to build with agricultural waste products?

    Andrew McGregor's avatar
    Andrew McGregor 4/28/2021 10:47 AM
    I think its very feasible to build with agricultural waste products and the main barrier is identifying the supply stream and collection processes.  The article about the rise straw MDF is really fascinating showing how a problem can be turned into a solution.  Unfortunately it also shows that these processes can take a long time to set up.