Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge

Elias Armstrong

Asheville High School Spring 2024!

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
626 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

20

miles

traveled by carpool
UP TO

20

miles

not traveled by car
UP TO

1.6

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

20

minutes

being mindful
UP TO

45

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

236

minutes

spent learning

Elias's actions

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Eat Mindfully

Reduced Food Waste

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

COMPLETED 1
DAILY 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

Transportation

Try Carpooling

Carpooling

I will commute by carpool 20 miles per day and avoid sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Health and Education

Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

Family Planning and Education

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Go for a Daily Walk

Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 10 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Health and Education

Learn about the Need for Family Planning

Family Planning and Education

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Power

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Micro Wind

Micro Wind Turbines

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of micro wind.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Biomass

Biomass Power

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Research Bottom-Trawling Seafloor Impacts

Seafloor Protection

Each day, I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about how bottom-trawling impacts on the seafloor.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Industry

Research the Climate Impact of Refrigerants

Refrigerant Management

I will spend 30 minutes learning about the climate impact of refrigerants and what climate-friendly refrigerants are by using the links below.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Research Local Waste and Recycling Depots

To learn more about what is and is not recyclable in our area as well as how to properly dispose of hard to recycle materials to reduce my harmful impacts on the local environment AND learn how indigenous peoples and POC are more likely to be impacted by waste sites and pollution on a global scale.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn About Aquaculture

Improved Aquaculture

Each day, I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about sustainable aquaculture.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

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?

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?

Elias Armstrong 5/29/2024 9:03 AM

It is more peaceful and I can feel myself needing my phone less and less.

Read More
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?

Elias Armstrong 5/24/2024 8:39 AM

Do everything sustainably and think of communities while doing it. Have volunteers help and think of everyone fairly while making the city green.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation Try Carpooling

List some of the places you frequent often (work, grocery store, natural areas). Could you choose one or two days a week to schedule driving with a friend, neighbor or co-worker to these places?

Elias Armstrong 5/20/2024 9:16 AM

To school, to people's houses, and around town.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health and Education Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

What are some of the barriers that exist to women's equal participation and/or representation in your community?

Elias Armstrong 5/17/2024 9:35 AM

Women sometimes have barriers to what they can and cannot do. Some of these barriers could be less access to land, financial resources, and capital. These barriers exist because of sexism and people believing that women are not able to be as successful as men. We need to stand up for women's rights and empower them, giving them a fair chance just as we should for everyone.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation Go for a Daily Walk

What have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?

Elias Armstrong 5/16/2024 9:17 AM

I have noticed an improve in my health and I feel more alive!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health and Education Learn about the Need for Family Planning

What did you learn about the need for family planning? How do the needs of different people in different places compare to each other?

Elias Armstrong 5/15/2024 9:46 AM

I learned that population control or family planning is very important. For us to not have to use more resources and destroy more of the earth, we need to have a reason to not take all of those resources. Family planning will also give women more control over their bodies and give them more choice in reproducing. This will help save the planet little by little or at least let it last longer.The US uses way more materials and resources than it needs to. Some countries use as much as they need while others need more than they have. Some places need different things some countries might need more medical supplies while others might need fuel. Each place has different needs and the way that resources are spread out is unfair.

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?

Elias Armstrong 5/14/2024 9:44 AM

I would say that getting a geothermal heat pump installed in my house is something that I can do to help start expanding.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Learn More about Micro Wind

Micro turbines can be placed on large structures to take advantage of stronger, steadier breezes. The Eiffel Tower now sports vertical axis turbines that produce electricity for use on site. Where could micro turbines potentially be installed in your city?

Elias Armstrong 5/13/2024 9:11 AM

I think that in Asheville, multiple buildings are tall and strong enough to put microturbines on. Like the Duke Energy Center. There is also many mountains around that we could put them on.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Learn More about Biomass

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!

Elias Armstrong 5/09/2024 9:59 AM

I had not heard of biomass technology before. It surprised me that there are so many things that can be turned into a way to produce electricity or power.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks Research Bottom-Trawling Seafloor Impacts

Why is protecting the seafloor important?

Elias Armstrong 5/06/2024 8:49 AM

The ocean floor is a very important aspect of containing carbon and we need that to help the earth sustain itself.

Read More