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Ethan Bermudez's avatar

Ethan Bermudez

Asheville High School/SILSA

"I will do my best to help the world"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 591 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    lightbulb
    replaced
  • UP TO
    17
    minutes
    being mindful
  • UP TO
    22
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • UP TO
    1.0
    donation
    made
  • UP TO
    1.0
    story
    shared
  • UP TO
    426
    minutes
    spent learning

Ethan's actions

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

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Smart Seafood Choices

Ocean Farming

I will visit seafoodwatch.org and download the app to commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Biomass

Biomass Power

I will spend at least 13 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Electricity

Choose LED Bulbs

LED Lighting

I will replace 2 incandescent lightbulbs with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn About Aquaculture

Improved Aquaculture

Each day, I will spend at least 44 minutes learning about sustainable aquaculture.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY 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 Wave and Tidal Energy

Ocean Power

I will spend at least 33 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Learn about the Need for Family Planning

Family Planning and Education

I will spend at least 35 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

Tropical Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn About Cattle Farming

Improved Cattle Feed; Improved Manure Management

I will spend 48 minutes researching cattle feed and manure management, or visiting a dairy farm to learn about their farming practices.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Research the Climate Impact of Refrigerants

Refrigerant Management

I will spend 64 minutes learning about the climate impact of refrigerants and what climate-friendly refrigerants are by using the links below.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Share Your Story

Share Your Aha Moment

Fill out this form and share your Ecochallenge story with us!

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Share to Social Media: Food, Agriculture, Land Use

Food, Agriculture, & Land Use

Through social media (LinkedIn or Instagram), I will share what I've learned about Food, Agriculture, & Land Use and tag Ecochallenge.org.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY 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

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 22 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Learn More about Silvopasture

Silvopasture

I will spend at least 26 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings

Donate

Improved Clean Cookstoves

I will donate to nonprofits that install clean cookstoves in low-income countries.

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 2
DAILY ACTIONS

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 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Cook With Seaweed

Seaweed Farming

I will use seaweed in a new recipe.

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

    Ethan Bermudez's avatar
    Ethan Bermudez 4/30/2025 9:18 PM
    Family planning is a necessity to keep our population at a minimum and to let women choose when they want to have babies. Family planning can educate women on how to prevent pregnancies by the use of contraceptives, condoms, or abstinence until they want to have a child. This service can also provide additional support by supporting you individually and letting the community know, so that they can unite. Unwanted pregnancies that result in death or other life-altering disabilities can be easily prevented with the use of family planning. Teen pregnancies can also be avoided with family planning, which is an important thing because most teen pregnancies result in death or deformities.
    The needs of people differ depending on what country they live in. People who live in rich, successful countries typically get more access to self-care products like birth control pills, protection, and other services. People who live in poor countries, however, don't get many resources and help like those in high-income countries do. Because of this, people in poorer countries have more babies being born, which can lead to economic strain on a family that is already struggling. People can also differ in their genetic makeup. Someone can have negative side effects when taking contraceptives, while others may not.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Electricity
    What did you learn about wave and tidal energy? How do they compare to other energy sources?

    Ethan Bermudez's avatar
    Ethan Bermudez 4/30/2025 6:20 AM
    Tidal energy is a renewable and sustainable type of energy that is still in its infancy. They are way more predictable than solar and wind energy but are not as popular with only a few implemented in the world.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Electricity
    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?

    Ethan Bermudez's avatar
    Ethan Bermudez 4/29/2025 9:12 AM
    Microturbines can be potentially installed on the tops of high mountains and tall skyscrapers in my city. It could also be installed on top of the city's government buildings because those are very high off the ground.

    • Ella Eslamian's avatar
      Ella Eslamian 4/29/2025 10:02 AM
      Hi Ethan! I really like your idea of installing microturbines on top of skyscrapers and government buildings—it makes a lot of sense since those structures are already so high up and exposed to stronger winds. I didn't even thought about mountains, but that’s a great idea too! It’s cool to think about how we could start using these underutilized spaces to generate renewable energy.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
    What was the most interesting thing to learn about sustainable aquaculture practices?

    Ethan Bermudez's avatar
    Ethan Bermudez 4/29/2025 6:07 AM
    The most interesting part of sustainable aquaculture practices is the use of fish and how they are domesticated to sustain our needs. The boat used in aquaculture can catch many fish in just one trip, a far cry from what people from the past could accomplish.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Electricity
    Changing lightbulbs is an excellent first step toward energy efficiency! What's next for you?

    Ethan Bermudez's avatar
    Ethan Bermudez 4/28/2025 9:49 PM
    I am thinking of installing more LED light bulbs around my house however, that can be expensive, so for now, I will mind my energy consumption each day. As well as this, I will make an effort to cook with an open fire as I have a mini fire pit that you can cook food with.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
    Mindful eating is healthier for us than eating with distractions. How does your eating experience differ when practicing mindfulness?

    Ethan Bermudez's avatar
    Ethan Bermudez 4/27/2025 8:37 PM
    When I practice eating mindfully, I notice that I enjoy the food a bit more than if I were distracted. I also don't forget to eat when I am practicing mindfulness because there is nothing to distract me from my food. Eating mindfully is more peaceful, in my opinion, so I prefer to do it at least 1 time a day.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks
    Many states and countries have advisories on eating fish. Find out what is advised for your region. Do you think your diet choices fall within these guidelines? What steps do you need to take to make sure that they do?

    Ethan Bermudez's avatar
    Ethan Bermudez 4/27/2025 8:20 PM
    For North Carolina, advisories recommend not eating fish and shellfish in certain locations due to potential mercury in these creatures. Certain species of fish should also be eaten in moderation and with great caution. I personally don't eat fish, for what I can recall, I haven't eaten a fish in at least a year, but when it comes to a time that I do, I can use the app to see if the fish I eat is within the guidelines.
  • 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!

    Ethan Bermudez's avatar
    Ethan Bermudez 4/24/2025 5:53 AM
    I had known about biomass technology beforehand because my science teacher was really big on finding ways to reduce climate change. I did not know that certain types are plants are better for energy use than others.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Transportation
    What have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?

    Ethan Bermudez's avatar
    Ethan Bermudez 4/23/2025 8:29 PM
    On my daily walks, I have noticed many animals and plant life out in the park. I enjoy the fresh air and warm temperature that comes from walking on a nice day. Sometimes a pathway can curve around something inconspicuous, so changing that would make my walks more enjoyable.
  • 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?

    Ethan Bermudez's avatar
    Ethan Bermudez 4/23/2025 6:16 AM
    I can invest in geothermal energy by advocating online or in person about the benefits and cost-saving properties of these types of systems. I can also personally donate if I have the funds necessary.