Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge

Nella Marlar

Asheville High School Spring 2024!

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
35 THIS WEEK
341 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

5.0

zero-waste meals

consumed
UP TO

90

minutes

being mindful
UP TO

240

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

79

minutes

spent learning

Nella's actions

Land Sinks

Research Peatlands

Peatland Protection and Rewetting

I will spend 30 minutes researching the environmental benefits of peatlands and what is being done around the world to conserve and restore them.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Composting

Composting, Reduced Food Waste

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants

Farm Irrigation Efficiency

I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of trees and plants in my yard.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings

Replace Manual Thermostats

Smart Thermostats

I will replace manual thermostats with smart ones.

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.

UNCOMPLETED
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

Industry

Research Local Waste and Recycling Depots

To learn more about what is and is not recyclable in our area as well as how to properly dispose of hard to recycle materials to reduce my harmful impacts on the local environment AND learn how indigenous peoples and POC are more likely to be impacted by waste sites and pollution on a global scale.

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 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Zero-Waste Cooking

Reduced Food Waste

I will cook 2 meals with zero-waste each day.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Go for a Daily Walk

Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 35 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 6
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

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
Land Sinks Research Peatlands

Much of Indonesia's peatlands have been drained so they could be replaced with palm oil or pulp and paper plantations. How can you make choices that help to protect peatlands, even if you live far away from one?

Nella Marlar 5/03/2024 7:24 AM

I can advocate to help stop deforestation and overall keep the environment healthier and safer, or use fewer products that the plantations will be producing.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings Replace Manual Thermostats

How do you anticipate replacing your thermostats for smart ones will positively impact your life?

Nella Marlar 5/02/2024 7:43 AM

Smart thermostats have upgrades and can automatically adjust to save energy and you can program it to change the temperature at different times of the day/week

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry Research the Climate Impact of Refrigerants

What did you learn about the climate impact of refrigerants? How do supermarkets contribute to this impact?

Nella Marlar 5/01/2024 9:36 AM

I learned that refrigerants contain CFCs that harm the environment and are a big cause of greenhouse gases. Supermarkets contribute because they use refrigerants like HFCs in their cooling systems which can leak and are potent greenhouse gasses that contribute to climate change.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Eat Mindfully

Mindful eating is healthier for us than eating with distractions. How does your eating experience differ when practicing mindfulness?

Nella Marlar 4/30/2024 7:31 AM

My eating experienced differed when practicing mindfulness because I was able to focus on what I was eating and the pace I was eating it.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Zero-Waste Cooking

In North America, up to 65% of food waste happens at the consumer level. Chef Steven Satterfield advocates for utilizing every part of a vegetable. How can you incorporate using an entire vegetable, including the skins, tops, and stalks during your next meal prep?

Nella Marlar 4/30/2024 7:28 AM

Using other parts of a vegetable you wouldn't normally eat can be incorporated into things like soup for flavor or stir fry.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

How does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?

Nella Marlar 4/25/2024 7:39 AM

Knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empowers me to make better decisions because I now understand what they mean and when the food is actually going bad. In the past, I have definitely discarded products because they had met the “best if used by/before” date, but now I know the food might not taste as good by that time, but it’s still very much edible and shouldn’t be wasted. From now on I will encourage myself and my family to check the correct dates and not trash food while it's still good to eat.

Read More