Drawdown Ecochallenge 2025

Sam Boyce

"I am attempting the Ecochallenge because I do want to do more to help the planet than I already do, and this site is a good way to learn what I need to be better on and what more I could learn about. "

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
637 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

112

miles

not traveled by car
UP TO

112

miles

traveled by carpool
UP TO

52

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

1.0

carbon footprint

calculated
UP TO

270

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

73

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

141

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

145

minutes

spent learning

Sam's actions

Electricity

Learn More about Biomass

Biomass Power

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Join a Recycling Program

Recycling

I will set up or join a recycling program at my workplace or school.

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 16
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Tend A Garden

Conservation Agriculture

I will tend to a garden, or prepare for one, each day using sustainable gardening practices.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Try Carpooling

Carpooling

I will commute by carpool 10 miles per day and avoid sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Composting

Composting, Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost or worm bin where I live.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

Tropical Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Power

I will spend at least 10 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 10 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of micro wind.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Explore My Area

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 30 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 17 minutes researching the environmental benefits of peatlands and what is being done around the world to conserve and restore them.

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 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Clean Plate Club

After every meal finish everything that you put on your plate that is edible.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings

Plan to Insulate

Insulation

I will spend 15 minutes finding out how to make my home more energy efficient through better insulation and weatherization.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings

Fix Leaky Faucets

Low-Flow Fixtures

I will fix faucets or report leaky faucets to facilities that have been wasting up to 9 gallons (34 L) of water a day or 270 (1,020 L) gallons of water a month per faucet.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Calculate My Household Carbon Footprint

I will calculate the carbon emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Learn about Biochar

Biochar Production

I will spend 11 minutes learning about biochar and how it can help sequester carbon.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

Electric Cars, Hybrid Cars

I will spend at least 16 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation

Reducing (or eliminating) exhaust emissions and improving public health are two benefits of green vehicles. What other motivators inspire you to consider switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle?
Sam Boyce 6/06/2025 11:00 AM
having a fuel-efficient vehicle means paring less money on gas which can be pretty expensive.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity

After you determined your carbon footprint, did you see what different choices you can make in order to reduce it?
Sam Boyce 6/06/2025 10:59 AM
I can try to drive less to places that I could have walked to.

Read More
Sam Boyce 6/06/2025 10:56 AM
It was really interesting researching how diet can impact the Earth, and I am glad I got the chance to.

Read More
- Cavanaugh Brett 6/12/2025 12:26 AM
  That's awesome to hear! It's eye-opening to realize how our food choices can affect the planet—great job diving into such an important topic solar smash!
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Can biochar provide additional benefits besides sequestering carbon?
Sam Boyce 6/06/2025 10:48 AM
Biochar can also help nourish the soil, making better soil for whatever is planted in it.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks

How is your diet currently impacting deforestation? What can you do to decrease your negative impact and increase your positive impact?
Sam Boyce 6/06/2025 7:13 AM
I already avoid foods that contain palm oil because I knew about its contributions to deforestation, and I don't drink coffee, so I don't have to worry about causing a negative impact with those items. I get a lot of eggs directly from farms, so I don't have to worry about that either, but I can look more into where I am buying my chocolate and milk, to limit my impacts through those products.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

How does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?
Sam Boyce 6/06/2025 7:08 AM
Knowing the difference between these dates, makes it possible for me to reduce the amount of food I am wasting, because it makes it easier for me to determine whether food has gone bad and I should throw it out, or if it just won't be at its best.

Read More
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?
Sam Boyce 6/06/2025 7:03 AM
I have been walking in my downtown area, mostly and because there has been construction near where I walk, it has been interesting to see how it has changed as time passes.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks

How can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place -- your deep knowledge of and appreciation for your surroundings?
Sam Boyce 6/06/2025 7:00 AM
Just being in nature, surrounded by the smell of dirt and the sounds of birds, can have a very calming effect on me. This effect helps me to take a breath and observe my surroundings wherever I am and just enjoy what I am doing at that moment.

Read More
- Gianna Marko 6/17/2025 4:15 PM
  I agree with you, Sam! The smell of damp earth and plants in the sunshine is so calming and always gives me a sense of freedom and focus. Spending time in nature can make a big difference!
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry

How can you take your commitment to sustainable living beyond yourself? How can you, personally, work toward broader change?
Sam Boyce 6/06/2025 6:57 AM
I can help through sharing with other people who might not be doing things like composting and recycling to tools to be able to do so.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Producing food that goes uneaten squanders many resources—seeds, water, energy, land, fertilizer, hours of labor, financial capital. Which of these kinds of waste most motivates you to change your behavior regarding food waste? Why?
Sam Boyce 6/06/2025 6:56 AM
I don't know which category this falls under, but I didn't like that the food I didn't consume would go straight to a landfill where it would not properly decompose. With composting, I am giving food that I couldn't use a new lifecycle as compost, that can then help grow more food.

Read More