In our architecture school cement and concrete are described as default material due to their common use in our built environment. The commonly used material of cement has some drawbacks sadly.  The production of cement accounts for 5-6 percent of the world's emissions annually. This is because the most common type of cement relies on limestone and aluminosilicate clay mixed at high temperature to change them atomic makeup and releasing carbon dioxide in the process. The Limestone in the formula releases sixty percent of the carbon dioxide. Project drawdown defines cement alternatives as “the partial replacement of clinker with alternative materials.” The carbon emission can also be reduced by replacing old cement kilns with newer more efficient ones. Project drawdown made two model scenarios within the context of the international cement standards and calculated the results. Scenario 1’s model sets the clinker to cement ratio to 0.61 and assumes 39% of the market uses cement alternatives. Scenario 2’s model sets the clinker to cement ratio to 0.46 and assumes 54% of the market uses cement alternatives. Scenario 1 predicts “8 gigatons of carbon dioxide abated by 2050.” Scenario 2 predicts “16 gigatons of carbon dioxide abated by 2050.” 

Project Drawdown https://www.drawdown.org/solutions/alternative-cement
Project Drawdown https://www.drawdown.org/solutions/alternative-cement/technical-summary

For my one time challenge, I successfully donated $25 to the Native American Rights Fund (https://www.narf.org/about-us/). Since I forgot to take a screenshot of when I made my donation on their website, I sent proof of my donation through Canvas. I chose this particular one-time challenge because last semester, I took a class that showed a documentary on DAPL. I was still in high school when the DAPL riots started and wasn't really aware of what was going on. But ever since I watched it, it's resonated with me and I believe NARF plays a huge role in fighting against unfair treatment shown towards indigenous peoples. 

Through this one-time challenge, I learned that geothermal energy is the production of energy using the internal heat from the Earth’s crust. This type of energy production does not cause pollution and is considered a renewable resource that is available everywhere. It is most commonly used for heating and cooling but could potentially meet the base load energy requirements worldwide. The disadvantages of geothermal energy include geothermal power plants have expensive upfront costs, along with the costs of heating and cooling systems, and plants can potentially cause earthquakes by disruption of the Earth’s crust. Likewise, Geothermal energy is only renewable if reservoirs are managed properly.

Geothermal Energy Pros and Cons. (2019, February 13). Retrieved May 02, 2020, from https://energyinformative.org/geothermal-energy-pros-and-cons/

My one time challenge was a success because I learned a lot about fast fashion.  Fast fashion is when brands copy runway looks as quickly as possible to sell in stores.  These clothes are typically low quality, however there are a lot of other problems that come with fast fashion.  It comes with a lot of environmental problems and human rights violations.  I've started to be more conscientious about what and who I'm buying from.  I bought a lot of fast fashion because it was cheap, but I never thought about why it was so cheap.  I've attempted to reuse clothing more and thrift clothes rather than buy new.  This being somewhat in style has helped too.  A lot of time reused clothing is inexpensive as well.  I've also tried to reuse some of my clothes that are out of style now and make it into something I would wear now.  The pictures are of some pants I haven't worn in year cut into shorts that I wear a lot now.

https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/what-is-fast-fashion