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Skyla Burgin's avatar

Skyla Burgin

Asheville High School/SILSA

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 381 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    100
    miles
    not traveled by car
  • UP TO
    100
    miles
    traveled by carpool
  • UP TO
    81
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    15
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • UP TO
    92
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    423
    minutes
    spent learning

Skyla's actions

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 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Industry

Recycle Everything I Can

Recycling; Recycled Metals; Recycled Plastics

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, including electronics and metals.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY 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 1
DAILY ACTION

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Visit the Coast

Macroalgae Protection and Restoration

I will visit a coastal or ocean site to experience the ecosystem and look for the presence of macroalgae/seaweed.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Try Carpooling

Carpooling

I will commute by carpool 100 miles per day and avoid sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Land Sinks

Plant Trees

Temperate Forest Restoration

I will plant 1 trees in my community, public parks, or backyard.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Power

I will spend at least 35 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Explore My Area

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 10 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

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

Buildings

Replace Manual Thermostats

Smart Thermostats

I will replace manual thermostats with smart ones.

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

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn About Aquaculture

Improved Aquaculture

Each day, I will spend at least 40 minutes learning about sustainable aquaculture.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

Ocean Power

I will spend at least 40 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Research the Climate Impact of Refrigerants

Refrigerant Management

I will spend 45 minutes learning about the climate impact of refrigerants and what climate-friendly refrigerants are by using the links below.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn About Cattle Farming

Improved Cattle Feed; Improved Manure Management

I will spend 45 minutes researching cattle feed and manure management, or visiting a dairy farm to learn about their farming practices.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

Tropical Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 40 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 40 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 40 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

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
    What was the most interesting thing to learn about sustainable aquaculture practices?

    Skyla Burgin's avatar
    Skyla Burgin 4/30/2025 12:03 PM
    I learned that wave and tidal energy use ocean movements to create power, and while they're reliable, they’re still expensive and not as widely used as solar and wind energy.
  • 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?

    Skyla Burgin's avatar
    Skyla Burgin 4/30/2025 11:58 AM
    In Asheville, microturbines could potentially be installed on tall buildings, like those in downtown, or on rooftops to take advantage of stronger winds.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Buildings
    How do you anticipate replacing your thermostats for smart ones will positively impact your life?

    Skyla Burgin's avatar
    Skyla Burgin 4/24/2025 5:06 PM
    Replacing my thermostat with a smart one will help me save money by using less energy. It will also make it easier to keep my home comfortable without having to change the settings all the time.









  • 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!

    Skyla Burgin's avatar
    Skyla Burgin 4/24/2025 11:09 AM
    Yes, I had heard of biomass technology before. I was surprised to learn that it turns waste like plants and manure into energy and also creates natural fertilizers.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Sinks
    How can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place -- your deep knowledge of and appreciation for your surroundings?

    Skyla Burgin's avatar
    Skyla Burgin 4/24/2025 7:13 AM
    Spending more time outdoors helped me learn about my area and what makes it special. It also helped me feel more connected to the place I live.









  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks
    What coastal site did you visit and what did you learn while there?

    Skyla Burgin's avatar
    Skyla Burgin 4/23/2025 10:54 AM
    I went to a beach in Florida called Saint Augustine. I learned how the ocean can change the land over time and how important it is to keep the beach clean for animals and people.
  • 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?

    Skyla Burgin's avatar
    Skyla Burgin 4/23/2025 10:41 AM
    I can share what I learn about geothermal energy with others and speak up for clean energy. I can also give time to learn more or support leaders who want to use it.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Transportation
    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?

    Skyla Burgin's avatar
    Skyla Burgin 4/22/2025 11:56 AM
    I go to school, home, the grocery store, Goodwill, and my friends houses. I could ride with a friend or someone in my family to some of these places a couple days a week to save gas and help the Earth.









  • 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?

    Skyla Burgin's avatar
    Skyla Burgin 4/22/2025 11:47 AM
    On my daily walks, I’ve noticed birds, trees, and quiet moments that help me feel calm. I enjoyed the fresh air and time away from screens. Better sidewalks and more benches could make my walks easier and more fun.









  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Industry
    How could you incorporate other "Rs" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle? How does considering implementing these "Rs" make you feel?

    Skyla Burgin's avatar
    Skyla Burgin 4/22/2025 11:44 AM
    I could use less stuff, fix things when they break, and find new ways to use old items instead of throwing them away. Thinking about doing this makes me feel like I can help the planet and make a difference, even in small ways.