Micro Wind Turbines
They are turbines that would be a good alternative to fossil fuels on a small scale. With an investment from the government and/or an incentive for the population, these devices would be a possible solution to reducing our consumption of harmful fuels. They can be installed on a property of at least one acre and are quite high up, so they would need to be in an area free of thick vegetation. There are different types, certain ones higher, lower or that can tilt to accommodate different people's needs. The research provided was more aimed towards the USA, but in their country, around 20% of the population could theoretically get a turbine installed on their land. There are however certain restrictions to this solution. They are not yet common, so the initial price is currently quite steep, and there is not much research about long-term noise pollution or environmental impact on the ecosystem. It also isn't a stand-alone issue, and other changes to your building like insulation could also reduce the overall consumption of energy in a home. Overall, this is a great possible solution to reducing fossil fuels, however, it would need an investment from the government, and local officials to be able to work.

Consuming smaller portions and more vegan meals not only had incredible benefits to my health, helping me shed a lot of weight but taught me more sustainable buying and eating habits. Food takes a lot of energy to both produce and get transported, constantly eating huge meals means that there needs to be even more food produced and energy used to keep up with demand. Meat and other animal products are often extremely pollutant. Livestock takes a lot of food and water to be raised, and factories to process various animal products aren't exactly green. Cows for example are an incredibly large producer of methane. Just one cow requires an insane amount of food and water. Balancing the amount of animal products you eat, getting them ethically sourced, and eating in moderation are key to a sustainable diet.

Final Eco-Challenge Post: To sum up my reflection, obviously this was an interesting and motivating way to keep up-to-date on what you do in your daily life for me. It was kind of hard to keep up with every single week by posting these actions, but I did it, and honestly, it made me reflect on my own choices for a more sustainable future because, truthfully, I am scared for Mother Nature and what the world has to offer in the future, especially when thinking about methane, fossil fuel gas emissions, and how much pollution this earth has and whether or not it’s going to be too late to take care of it or not, because we never know what will happen because climate change is a real known problem that people still refuse to believe in, which is mind-boggling because we are currently in it right now. I believe that the effort that I put into my Eco Challenge has made a difference in the way I perceive myself, and I will continue to strive for a better future by integrating all of these actions and more to come in my life. My ultimate goal is for this planet to be greener and healthier as a whole, but to slightly come to that conclusion, everyone around the world needs to participate, and I believe that everyone should be encouraged to subscribe to the DrawDown Eco Challenge because it’s a strong movement that can even be larger than what it currently is and it is a way to spread awareness to people. But as of right now, our world is facing challenges with fossil fuels. Hopefully, in the future, we can strive to use renewable energy sources like solar panels, but that can benefit people in different countries and continents around the world. Not everyone is able to use sustainable sources. Sometimes people have to stick with what’s easier, especially if we look towards transportation and how people use the car because it’s going to take less time than taking public transportation. For example, if we replace current energy sources with sustainable ones, a lot of jobs would be lost, and obviously the building of the renewable energy sources would cost a lot more, especially finding a place to set up these renewable sources and building new installations for them. I just feel as though we will never amount to a perfect greener world. I believe that this is a problem that we’re going to deal with forever, and unfortunately, it will just get worse because the generations before us did not care as much but also did not have the knowledge of knowing better for the next generations to come after them, and that’s a mistake that a lot of people do, basically doing the work, making the mess and leaving it for the younger population to fix and then blame us and calling us lazy, but honestly, I believe Gen Z is the only generation that has actually made changes and protested for climate change than anyone has ever seen before. Hopefully, in a better world, we would live happily with sustainable solutions that can last a lifetime.

Week 11: Recently, I’ve started adding seaweed to my everyday meals. I love it! Thanks to my one-time action (coastal, ocean, engineered sinks) I completed that got me into this, I add it to everything from rice and salads to sandwiches. I love the crunchy taste and versatility. Seaweed also spiked my interest in learning about its sustainability benefits, which has made it even more meaningful when eating it. Seaweed absorbs large amounts of CO₂ from the atmosphere and requires no freshwater, fertilizer, or pesticides to grow, which makes it one of the most sustainable forms of food compared to many land crops. Studies show that if seaweed farming were scaled up, it could play a detrimental role in reducing the amount of global carbon emissions we transmit and seaweed improves ocean health by absorbing nutrients that lead to dangerous algae blooms. Because of my choice, I feel like I stepped into a new realm of discovering sustainable foods that I can incorporate into my diet. I am honestly grateful that I can enjoy seaweed without feeling as though I am causing harm to mother nature.

Week 10: In my family, we avoid plastic by using reusable bags—this has been going on for years in my family, and it is understood by both my brother and me—water bottles, silverware, and containers. However, my brother often has friends over, and they’re not as eco-friendly at all. They bring over single-use plastic items like water bottles and takeout containers, choosing convenience over sustainability (even though my brother grew up in a family that is somewhat eco-conscious; his friends influence has an impact over his decisions). This week alone, we counted around 37 plastic water bottles and several food containers from their visits! Their bad choices add to our household’s plastic waste, and it increasingly went up like no other. That is why there will be rules set up by my parents to reduce their intake by educating them. I spoke to them about it and how they should spread awareness because maybe my brothers friends aren't so aware, so by educating them on the topic, they'll definitely show respect by not wasting. That conversation will make it clear that there’s room for improvement in my family's effort to cut down on single-use plastics forever in our household!

Week 9: During my time off, trying out the espresso machine my parents gifted me was a fun experience since I had always mentioned it to to them so they could eventually buy me one. I spent the weekend making coffee and sharing it with family because they would frequently stop by and try it. It made me appreciate the simplicity of enjoying coffee at home with loved ones. Unlike coffee shops, where profits go directly to owners or big companies, making coffee at home feels more 10x more personal and bittersweet. Plus, I have control over the ingredients, knowing I’m supporting sustainable and fair-trade options that come from local stores that get the coffee grains from South America, and its company actively supports the country of origin and gives back to them and to the workers so they can work in safe and ethnical conditions. This way, I’m supporting ethical actions while enjoying coffee in a way that feels less commercial and more genuine.

11/13/2024 - Final Post

11/06/2024 - Weekly Post: Muscle Transportation

10/09/2024 - Weekly Posts: Carbon Offsets

11/30/2024 - Weekly Post: Bamboo Products