Ecochallenge.org

Earth Day Ecochallenge

April 1 - April 30, 2020

Kyle Franklin

Mace North America Green Team

"To reduce carbon Footprint "

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
288 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

5.0

pounds

waste composted
UP TO

1.0

community event

hosted or attended
UP TO

25

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

2.0

trees

planted
UP TO

10

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

17

plastic straws

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

2.0

lightbulbs

replaced
UP TO

17

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

60

gallons of water

have been saved

Kyle's actions

Fresh Water

Dishwasher Efficiency

I will scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher and only run the dishwasher when it’s full.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Fresh Water

Conserve Toilet Water

I will save up to 12 gallons (45 L) of water a day by flushing only when necessary.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Fresh Water

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Climate

Choose LED Bulbs

I will replace 1 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate

Choose Renewable Energy or Purchase Renewable Energy Credits

I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option. If my utility does not offer one, I will purchase Renewable Energy Credits to match my usage.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Compost Food Waste

I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill each day by composting my food or learning how to.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Earth Day Together!

Earth Day Action: Share Eco Tips

Through social media or on the Earth Day Ecochallenge feed, I will share my favorite environmentally friendly habit with my friends, even if it’s not an Earth Day action.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Oceans

Say No to Plastic Straws

An estimated 71% of seabirds and 30% of turtles have been found with plastics in their stomachs. When marine wildlife ingest plastic, they have a 50% mortality rate. By asking for no straw when placing a drink order, I will keep 4 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Oceans

Join a Cleanup Effort

I will host or participate in a trash pickup at a local river or beach that follows the CDC’s current guidelines for prevention of disease transfer.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Oceans

Learn about Our Oceans

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning about how our oceans support life on Earth by producing oxygen, regulating climate, and providing habitat, food, and jobs.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Forests

Forest-Friendly Foods

I will replace or remove the palm oil, coffee, and cocoa products in my current diet that are known to contribute to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate

Earth Day Action: Write a Love Letter, Poem, or Song to Earth

I will express my love and gratitude for our Earth by writing a love letter, poem, or song to Earth.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Forests

Explore My Area

I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area while following CDC guidelines for social distancing.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Building Resilience

Research Benefits of Biodiversity

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching how biodiversity positively impacts our world and how the loss of biodiversity harms it.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Forests

Plant Trees

I will plant 2 native tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Fresh Water

What would a sustainable water future in your region look like? What needs to change?
Kyle Franklin 4/30/2020 3:30 PM
https://www.iwapublishing.com/news/sustainability-water-supply
Reclaimed water, or water recycled from human use, can also be a sustainable source of water supply. It is an important solution to reduce stress on primary water resources such as surface and groundwater. There are both centralized and decentralized systems which include greywater recycling systems and the use of microporous membranes. Reclaimed water must be treated to provide the appropriate quality for a given application (irrigation, industry use, etc.). It is often most efficient to separate greywater from blackwater, thereby using the two water streams for different uses. Greywater comes from domestic activities such as washing, whereasblackwater contains human waste. The characteristics of the two wastestreams thus differ.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

New to composting? Be sure to check out the action resource links to learn tips and more about it. As you transition from throwing food away to composting, what do you notice about how much you are tossing? How will you use your compost once it is ready?
Kyle Franklin 4/30/2020 3:29 PM
The Importance of Mature Compost

Immature compost may contain substances damaging to plants, including acids and pathogens. Furthermore, immature compost in soil continues to decay, a process requiring both nitrogen and oxygen. When these elements are being used to degrade organic material, they’re unavailable to plants. For all of these reasons, it’s important that compost be thoroughly mature before it is applied to soil.

Hot Piles

If you have a hot pile that’s been turned regularly, knowing when it’s done is easy: it won’t heat up any more, even after being turned. Wait several weeks for it to cure, and it’s done.

That extra time for curing allows the microbes that operate at lower-temperature to put their finishing touches on the pile. It also allows earthworms and other larger organisms which don’t tolerate high heat to move back into the compost. This is a bit like having your cake and eating it too: they improve the compost itself and then they improve the soil where the compost is added

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Climate

Changing lightbulbs is an excellent first step toward energy efficiency! In what other ways can you exercise your civic duty to protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions?
Kyle Franklin 4/30/2020 3:28 PM
They are many things you can do without really changing your lifestyle and certainly not having to suffer!

Think carefully about your transport choices. Use public transport when you can. When its time to replace your car, look at ev or hybrid - they are available in all different sizes and styles now, with performance and price matching conventional cars, and the economy is astounding so you'll save money.

Check your house for insulation, make sure your heating and aircon is working properly and efficiently, and your other major appliances too. Turn your heating down by 1 degree - you won't notice it but even that makes a significant difference.

For food shopping, check where things come from. Buying local is not only better quality (because keeping food looking fresh for long transport does affect vitamins etc) but the reduced impact on emissions is significant.

Think about working from home, just occasionally. Many employers are open to such ideas and it is good for you and the environment. And it's amazing how much more you can get done in the occasional day away from the distractions of the office.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Oceans

What is one way in which oceans support your life on Earth? What is one way you can help take care of ocean health with your actions?
Kyle Franklin 4/30/2020 3:27 PM
The ocean is Earth's life support50 to 70 % of our oxygen comes from the ocean. ... The ocean is the #1 source of protein for more than a billion people. The ocean regulates our climate, absorbs carbon dioxide, holds 97% of Earth's water, and supports the greatest abundance of life on our planet

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Climate

Your utility company is able to tell you your average energy usage. Ask them how your energy usage compares to others in your ZIP code, region, and/or state. What other steps can you take each day to reduce your electricity usage?
Kyle Franklin 4/30/2020 3:25 PM
Seal up the house. I’m pretty sure we have money leaking through cracks around the doors and windows. It’s simple enough to buy caulk and weather-stripping to seal cracks — in fact, we already have caulk left over from other projects. According to Consumer Reports, sealing leaks can reduce energy costs by 15 to 30%

Use heat-generating appliances at night. I know this should be a no-brainer, but I like to bake, and because I work at home, I can bake whenever the mood strikes. But obviously a hot oven in the heat of the day forces the AC to work harder to keep the house at a comfortable temperature. The same goes for clothes dryers and dishwashers. Use these at night when outside temps are cooler.

Wash laundry with cold water. According to Michael Bluejay, A.K.A. Mr. Electricity, washing clothing in cold water instead of hot can save $152 per year
Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Earth Day Together!

What environmentally friendly habit have you most recently implemented? How do you ensure that you are successful in creating or changing a habit?
Kyle Franklin 4/30/2020 3:25 PM
We can start saving the environment by making healthy, green habits at home daily. This can help create a subtle change in the community which can act as a ripple and affect even a wider scope to enhance the environmental benefits these green habits can bring. Some of the steps you can implement in your house which can also be eco-friendly habits for children include:

1. Conserving energy.
2. Conserving water.
3. Planting more trees.
4. Segregating your garbage.
5. Reusing, reducing, recycling – Reach out to Computer Recycling Center for some info on this
6. Start eating locally. Eat locally produced food and support local business by buying local products.
7. Choosing fuel efficient modes of travel.
8. Collaborating with an institute in implementing community-based eco-friendly activities.
9. Become an active advocate.
10. Become a role model for others

Read More