April 1 - April 30, 2021

Alejandro Nunez

"My mission is to do this for ourselves, heal our planet, our home. More oxygen, cleaner air, reduce pollution, reduce global warming. Clean and greener environments for our kid's future."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,062 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

donation

made
UP TO

8.0

lightbulbs

replaced
UP TO

41

locally sourced meals

consumed
UP TO

66

miles

not traveled by car
UP TO

210

miles

traveled by bike
UP TO

66

miles

traveled by bus
UP TO

990

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

191

pounds of CO2

have been saved

Alejandro's actions

Buildings

Explore Other Buildings Solutions

All Buildings Solutions

I will spend at least 120 minutes researching other Drawdown Buildings Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings

Research Heat Pumps

High-Efficiency Heat Pumps

I will spend at least 120 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Learn about Biochar

Biochar Production

I will spend 120 minute(s) learning about biochar and how it can help sequester carbon.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Power

I will spend at least 120 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Accelerating Solutions

Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail

High-Speed Rail

I will spend at least 50 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

Health and Education

I will spend at least 120 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Buy Bamboo

Bamboo Production

When they are available, I will purchase products made from bamboo instead of wood, plastic, or metal.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Climate Resilience

Learn More about Silvopasture

Silvopasture

I will spend at least 60 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

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

Industry

Recycle Everything I Can

Recycling

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will research and recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community, making sure to not contaminate recyclables with non-recyclables.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Climate Resilience

Support Local Food Systems

Plant-Rich Diets

I will source 80 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 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Go by Bike

Bicycle Infrastructure

I will commute by bike 30 mile(s) each day and avoid sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Use Public Transit

Public Transit

I will use public transit 8 mile(s) per day and avoid sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Health and Education

Learn about the Need for Family Planning

Health and Education

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

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

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

Choose LED Bulbs

LED Lighting

I will replace 1 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

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

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?

Alejandro Nunez 4/29/2021 12:37 PM

Many building solutions reduce on-site emissions and enhance electricity efficiency, reducing emissions at the power plant. Taken together, these solutions can transition buildings from being a major problem to potentially net positive, as the greenest buildings can produce more energy than they consume.
These solutions can also help ease the energy burden many low-income households face, as energy bills often eat up a significant and disproportionate percentage of income.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings Explore Other Buildings Solutions

What did you find out? What is the most interesting fact you learned?

Alejandro Nunez 4/29/2021 12:37 PM

Many building solutions reduce on-site emissions and enhance electricity efficiency, reducing emissions at the power plant. Taken together, these solutions can transition buildings from being a major problem to potentially net positive, as the greenest buildings can produce more energy than they consume.
These solutions can also help ease the energy burden many low-income households face, as energy bills often eat up a significant and disproportionate percentage of income.

Read More
Alejandro Nunez 4/29/2021 12:33 PM

In comparison to straight electric heat, like electric radiators or space heaters, a heat pump produces heat two to four times as efficiently. So at moderate temperatures, it is worth running a heat pump as much as possible. Even when it's cold out, the heat pump is producing heat less expensively than an oil system.
For climates with moderate heating and cooling needs, heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners.
High-efficiency heat pumps also dehumidify better than standard central air conditioners, resulting in less energy usage and more cooling comfort in the summer months.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings Research Heat Pumps

Why is taking action on climate change important to you? Why do you care?

Alejandro Nunez 4/29/2021 12:33 PM

In comparison to straight electric heat, like electric radiators or space heaters, a heat pump produces heat two to four times as efficiently. So at moderate temperatures, it is worth running a heat pump as much as possible. Even when it's cold out, the heat pump is producing heat less expensively than an oil system.
For climates with moderate heating and cooling needs, heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners.
High-efficiency heat pumps also dehumidify better than standard central air conditioners, resulting in less energy usage and more cooling comfort in the summer months.

Read More
Alejandro Nunez 4/28/2021 8:32 AM

Biochar is one of the few climate mitigations and soil enhancement technologies that are relatively inexpensive, widely applicable, and quickly scalable. Also, there is a need for small municipalities to recycle their increasing amounts of sewage biosolids and organic wastes in a sustainable way. Its tremendous porous and surface structure provides a great habitat for micro-organisms, increases bioavailability, and creates a reservoir for water, nutrients, and, in certain applications, pollutants. Using it as a soil additive increases plant growth rates. This, in turn, provides an effective sink for sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks Learn about Biochar

Can biochar provide additional benefits besides sequestering carbon?

Alejandro Nunez 4/28/2021 8:32 AM

Biochar is one of the few climate mitigations and soil enhancement technologies that are relatively inexpensive, widely applicable, and quickly scalable. Also, there is a need for small municipalities to recycle their increasing amounts of sewage biosolids and organic wastes in a sustainable way. Its tremendous porous and surface structure provides a great habitat for micro-organisms, increases bioavailability, and creates a reservoir for water, nutrients, and, in certain applications, pollutants. Using it as a soil additive increases plant growth rates. This, in turn, provides an effective sink for sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide

Read More
Alejandro Nunez 4/26/2021 1:21 PM

The amount of geothermal energy stored deep in the earth is much greater than the amount of energy that humans use. But that energy is not easily accessible. The efficiency of engines that convert heat to energy is limited due to thermodynamic laws. The heat is rejected by the power plant. It goes to waste when exhausted into the environment. However, we can use this heat in greenhouses, mills, and also in local houses. On the other hand, their engines are not the theoretical perfect engines, either. Since geothermal energy is an independent resource its efficiency can be much larger if used in a proper way.

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?

Alejandro Nunez 4/26/2021 1:21 PM

We can define Geothermal energy as a sort of renewable energy derived from the heat that is there deep in the earth’s crust. Humans are using this clean and sustainable energy for thousands of years in some countries. However, so far they have utilized it mostly for cooking and heating. As groundwater heats, geothermal energy generates in the form of hot water and steam which we can use for direct heating of homes and greenhouses.
The amount of geothermal energy stored deep in the earth is much greater than the amount of energy that humans use. But that energy is not easily accessible. The efficiency of engines that convert heat to energy is limited due to thermodynamic laws. The heat is rejected by the power plant. It goes to waste when exhausted into the environment. However, we can use this heat in greenhouses, mills, and also in local houses. On the other hand, their engines are not the theoretical perfect engines, either. Since geothermal energy is an independent resource its efficiency can be much larger if used in a proper way.

Read More
Alejandro Nunez 4/23/2021 1:33 PM

According to the International Association of Railways (UIC), high-speed rail is eight times more energy-efficient than airplanes and four times more efficient than automobile use. It will also decrease greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.
This also includes transportation benefits (congestion relief, faster travel) and numerous jobs as well as environmental impacts such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved energy efficiency, revitalized communities, and improved safety.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Accelerating Solutions Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail

What are the factors that influence your choice of transportation? These can include things like money, time, and convenience, as well as perceptions of danger or safety. What would need to change for you to regularly choose more climate-friendly options?

Alejandro Nunez 4/23/2021 1:33 PM

According to the International Association of Railways (UIC), high-speed rail is eight times more energy-efficient than airplanes and four times more efficient than automobile use. It will also decrease greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.
This also includes transportation benefits (congestion relief, faster travel) and numerous jobs as well as environmental impacts such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved energy efficiency, revitalized communities, and improved safety.

Read More