Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge 2025

Chloe Raboin

Team Solons

POINTS TOTAL

35 TODAY
35 THIS WEEK
550 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

33

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

408

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

1.0

energy audit

conducted
UP TO

925

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

3.0

women, BIPOC, and immigrant-owned businesses

supported
UP TO

105

minutes

spent learning

Chloe's actions

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Reduce Animal Products

Plant-Rich Diets

I will enjoy 2 meatless or vegan meals each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 13
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

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 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Industry

Plastics Audit

Reduced Plastics

I will complete a plastics audit to see where plastics show up in my life and determine how I can reduce the use of single-use plastics.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Go for a Daily Walk

Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 45 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Industry

Practice the 5 Rs

Recycling

I will practice the "5 Rs" — refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle — to reduce my waste more than I can with just recycling alone.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

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).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Choose Recycled Paper

Recycled Paper

I will plan ahead to use paper products only made from post-consumer recycled paper for my home or office.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

Electric Cars, Hybrid Cars

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Test Drive an Electric Bike

Electric Bicycles

I will test drive an electric bike at a local distributor to see if it makes sense to use one in place of my car, or to extend the area I can cover by bike.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings

Online Energy Audit

Multiple Solutions

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Buy Bamboo

Bamboo Production

When they are available, I will purchase products made from bamboo instead of wood, plastic, or metal.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Support Businesses Owned by Women, POC, or Immigrants

Sustainable Intensification for Smallholders

I will spend 45 minutes researching and shopping from 2 businesses owned by women, people of color, or immigrants.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Explore My Area

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 90 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

UNCOMPLETED
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
Health and Education

Which businesses that you researched are you excited to support? Are you already supporting businesses that you didn't know were owned by women, people of color, or immigrants?
Chloe Raboin 5/29/2025 11:40 AM
I learned that Dorset Union store, Bailey Road, and Botanical Florals are all women owned store in Vermont I am already supporting the Dorset Union Store I kind of Knew but I wasn't definitely sure that this was a women owned store, but my research confirmed my thoughts

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks

Are bamboo alternatives readily available in your community? If not, what are other sustainable alternatives?
Chloe Raboin 5/28/2025 11:54 AM
I have a few options, but I believe that bamboo alternative is gaining traction. Other sustainable options include hemp, cork, and recycled materials, which offer durability and lower environmental impact.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation

Half of all trips made in the US are three miles or less; 72% of them are driven. Private vehicles account for 60% of trips of a mile or less. Do you often drive short distances instead of biking or walking? If so, how might incorporating an electric bike into your lifestyle help you make more climate-friendly choices?
Chloe Raboin 5/25/2025 1:48 PM
Switching to an electric bike for short trips could significantly cut personal emissions while maintaining convenience. Given that most trips are within a few miles, e-bikes offer a practical alternative, reducing reliance on cars, lowering carbon footprints, and promoting a healthier lifestyle. Even replacing just a fraction of short drives with e-bike rides can contribute to decreased traffic congestion and improved air quality.

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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?
Chloe Raboin 5/23/2025 3:23 PM
Water waste is especially motivating, given its essential role in food production and the growing concerns about global water scarcity. Every uneaten meal represents a hidden loss of this finite resource, from irrigation to processing. Additionally, the energy used to grow, transport, and store food magnifies the environmental impact of waste, making conservation efforts even more urgent. Reducing food waste helps protect these critical resources while promoting a more sustainable food system.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry

Good job on choosing recycled paper! How can you take your action a step further?
Chloe Raboin 5/23/2025 3:20 PM
I can take my action a step further by opting for paper products certified by sustainability standards like FSC or SFI, ensuring responsible sourcing. Reducing paper use altogether, such as going digital whenever possible, amplifies environmental benefits. Supporting brands that prioritize recycled materials and advocating for workplace or community policies that promote sustainable paper practices also can make an impact.

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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?
Chloe Raboin 5/23/2025 3:15 PM
Beyond environmental and health benefits, switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle can significantly reduce fuel costs, offering long-term financial savings. Improved energy security is another motivator, as greater fuel efficiency reduces dependence on fossil fuels and stabilizes energy markets. I also can appreciate the quieter, smoother ride of electric and hybrid vehicles, along with advancements in technology that enhance driving experience and convenience.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation

What was your process like for restructuring your trip? How can you avoid more air travel in the future?
Chloe Raboin 5/23/2025 6:24 AM
I can avoid air travel by vacationing more locally or by vacationing somewhere where I can get there by a better source of transportation.
It was hard to restructure how I was going to make it to my vacation spot.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry

What are some more "Rs" you could add to your daily practice to reduce your waste?
Chloe Raboin 5/23/2025 6:19 AM
In addition to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, you can adopt Refuse by declining unnecessary items like single-use plastics, Repair, fixing broken items instead of discarding them, and Repurpose byfinding new uses for old items. Other useful "Rs" include Rethink by evaluating consumption habits, Rot composting organic waste, and Regift passing along items you no longer need. These practices contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle and help minimize environmental impact.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

While dishing food out, we tend to load our plates with more than we need. Using smaller plates helps to mitigate this. Aside from the environmental benefits, what other benefits might come from eating/serving smaller portions?
Chloe Raboin 5/23/2025 6:16 AM
Eating smaller portions can help with better digestion, as excessive food intake can strain the digestive system. It also supports weight management by preventing overeating, which can contribute to obesity-related health issues. Psychologically, smaller servings can encourage mindful eating, helping people appreciate flavors and recognize fullness cues more effectively. Additionally, it can reduce food waste at individual and community levels, making meals more efficient and equitable.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Why do people in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places? How does eating more meat affect our bodies, our planet, and other people?
Chloe Raboin 5/23/2025 6:15 AM
People in wealthier countries tend to eat more meat due to higher incomes, industrialized food systems, and cultural preferences shaped by economic development. Eating more meat can have mixed effects on health—it provides protein and essential nutrients but can also increase risks of heart disease and certain cancers when consumed in excess. Environmentally, meat production drives deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and water consumption, making it a major contributor to climate change. Socially, high meat demand can strain global food systems, reducing land and resources available for more sustainable crops, disproportionately affecting lower-income communities.

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