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Downing Cless's avatar

Downing Cless

First Church Belmont

"I'm engaged about 20 hours per week in climate activism, mainly through 3 organizations: (1) 350 Massachusetts, (2) Brookhaven Climate Change Committee, and (3) FCB Green Committee at First Church Belmont. With the first two, I do a lot of advocacy work, serving on the 350 Mass Statewide Legislative team and chairing the Advocacy Subcommittee of Brookhaven's CCC. So, advocacy is my action, though it is not on the Dashboard of Ecochallenge as far as I can tell."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 590 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    5.0
    lightbulbs
    replaced
  • UP TO
    5.0
    public officials or leaders
    contacted
  • UP TO
    5.0
    advocacy actions
    completed

Downing's actions

Electricity

MA legislative advocacy on transition to electrification and getting off natural gas

I'm intensely involved in this advocacy, especially during the last two weeks.

COMPLETED 41
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings

Advocacy on emission-free buildings

As a member of the 350 Mass Statewide Legislative Team, I do good deal of advocacy on buildings and climate change.

COMPLETED 18
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Advocacy for fossil-free transportation through 350 Mass Transportation Working Group

I'm a regular participant in the 350 Mass Transportation Working Group. I especially focus on legislative advocacy on climate-related bills on transportation.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

Electric Cars, Hybrid Cars

I will spend at least 180 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Stay on the Ground

Telepresence, High-Speed Rail

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).

UNCOMPLETED
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 5 incandescent lightbulbs with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Choose Renewable Energy or Purchase Renewable Energy Credits

Onshore Wind Turbines, Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaics

I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option. If my utility does not offer one, I will purchase Renewable Energy Credits to match my usage.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Communicate With My Elected Officials

Onshore Wind Turbines, Offshore Wind Turbines

I will write or call 6 elected officials telling them not to support fossil fuel subsidies and instead support wind energy generation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

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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?


  • Downing Cless's avatar
    Downing Cless 4/07/2024 6:58 PM
    As Advocacy chair at Brookhaven, I just composed a letter the Climate Change Committee will send to our State Representative.

  • Downing Cless's avatar
    Downing Cless 4/03/2024 6:09 PM
    Signed petitions to MA Gov. Healey, as well as some national petitions.

  • Downing Cless's avatar
    Downing Cless 4/03/2024 6:05 PM
    Emailed my state Representative and Senator on priorities for an omnibus climate bill.

  • Downing Cless's avatar
    Downing Cless 3/26/2024 8:27 AM
    Since this round started, I've been very busy with advocacy meetings and a letter sent to the Dept. of Energy Resources.

  • Downing Cless's avatar
    Downing Cless 2/06/2024 8:02 PM
    Today I did several advocacy calls and emails to legislators, ahead of tomorrow's deadline for reporting bills out of committees.

  • Downing Cless's avatar
    Downing Cless 2/05/2024 6:59 PM
    Okay--I think MAYBE I've figured out how to do this and play some catch-up.

  • Downing Cless's avatar
    Downing Cless 2/04/2024 2:47 PM
    Since joining the team, I haven't had time to post anything because of a very intensive period of legislative advocacy involving about 40 hours in the last two weeks. I'd love to get team points for all this, but I find that none of the selected "Action" modules deals with advocacy.

  • Downing Cless's avatar
    Downing Cless 1/30/2024 8:43 PM
    Yesterday and today I spent about 8 hours doing legislative advocacy for 350 Massachusetts