Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge 2025

Jude Conover

Asheville High School/SILSA

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
332 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

2.6

locally sourced meals

consumed
UP TO

10

miles

not traveled by car
UP TO

10

miles

traveled by carpool
UP TO

0.8

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

20

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

429

minutes

spent learning

Jude's 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 1
DAILY ACTION

Transportation

Go for a Daily Walk

Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 20 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

Ocean Power

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Biomass

Biomass Power

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Power

I will spend at least 30 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 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of micro wind.

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

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Reduce Food Waste

Reduced Food Waste

I will keep a daily log of food I throw away during Drawdown Ecochallenge, either because it went bad before I ate it, I put too much on my plate, or it was scraps from food preparation, and commit to reducing my food waste throughout the challenge.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn About Aquaculture

Improved Aquaculture

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

COMPLETED 3
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

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Support Local Food Systems

Plant-Rich Diets

I will source 10 percent of my food from local producers each day. This could include signing up for a local CSA, buying from a farmer's market, visiting a food co-op, foraging with a local group, or growing my own ingredients.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Sinks

Learn More about Silvopasture

Silvopasture

I will spend at least 20 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
Electricity

What did you learn about wave and tidal energy? How do they compare to other energy sources?
Jude Conover 4/30/2025 8:12 AM
I learned that wave and tidal energy come from the movement of ocean water and can create clean electricity without pollution. They’re super reliable because tides and waves happen all the time, unlike solar or wind which depend on the weather. But they’re still pretty new and expensive to build, so they aren’t used as much as other sources like wind, solar, or fossil fuels—at least not yet.

4o

Read More
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?
Jude Conover 4/30/2025 8:06 AM
In my city, microturbines could be installed on tall buildings like office towers, schools, or hospitals where the wind is stronger. They could also go on top of stadiums, parking garages, or even streetlights to help power lights and signs using clean energy.

Read More
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!
Jude Conover 4/30/2025 6:21 AM
Before this challenge, I hadn’t really heard much about biomass technology. I was surprised to learn that it uses things like plants, wood, and even food waste to create energy. It’s cool that we can turn everyday waste into power instead of just throwing it away. I'm definitely going to tell my friends that trash can actually help power homes and buildings!

Read More
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?
Jude Conover 4/30/2025 6:19 AM
You can support geothermal energy by donating money, learning and spreading awareness, or advocating for clean energy policies. Every small action helps push for a cleaner, more reliable energy future.

Read More
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?
Jude Conover 4/30/2025 5:53 AM
I use carpooling to go from shool and the gym.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks

Had you heard of the term "silvopasture" before now? After learning more about it, what do you think is the biggest advantage of silvopasture?
Jude Conover 4/02/2025 6:12 AM
No, I haven't heard about it before today. The biggest advantage of silvopasture is increased productivity because trees provide shade that keeps animals cool

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?
Jude Conover 3/28/2025 6:42 AM
Knowing the difference helps you not waste food and money. It shows you when food is still safe to eat, even if the date has passed.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Dependable fresh food, supporting local farmers and building resilient communities are just a few benefits of local food systems. Which of these (or other) advantages inspire you the most?
Jude Conover 3/20/2025 6:16 AM
Supporting local farmers inspires me the most because it helps small businesses and keeps fresh, healthy food in the community. It also feels good knowing where my food comes from and that it’s grown sustainably.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

An average American throws out about 240 lbs of food per year. The average family of four spends $1,500 a year on food that they throw out. Where would you rather use this money?
Jude Conover 3/20/2025 6:16 AM
I would rather use this money for something useful, like traveling, saving for the future, or donating to help people in need. Wasting food also wastes money, so being mindful could make a big difference!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

What was the most interesting thing to learn about sustainable aquaculture practices?
Jude Conover 3/20/2025 6:14 AM
The most interesting thing about sustainable aquaculture is how it helps protect wild fish populations while still providing food. Using eco-friendly methods like recirculating water and plant-based feeds makes fish farming better for the environment.

Read More