Drawdown Ecochallenge 2024

Monica Amador

"Learning to recognize our changing world and be a part of the solutions to help with climate change for a better future."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,179 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

20

zero-waste meals

consumed
UP TO

25

miles

traveled by bus
UP TO

25

miles

not traveled by car
UP TO

1.0

carbon footprint

calculated
UP TO

302

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

330

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

1.0

tree

planted
UP TO

241

minutes

spent learning

Monica's actions

Buildings

Install A Toilet Tank Bank

Low-Flow Fixtures

I will reduce the amount of water flushed and save up to 11 gallons (41 L) of water a day or 330 gallons (1,230 L) a month by installing a toilet tank bank.

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

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Learn about Biochar

Biochar Production

I will spend 20 minutes learning about biochar and how it can help sequester carbon.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

Electric Cars, Hybrid Cars

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Use Public Transit

Public Transit

I will use public transit 20 miles per day and avoid sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Buildings

Research Heat Pumps

High-Efficiency Heat Pumps

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Smart Seafood Choices

Ocean Farming

I will visit seafoodwatch.org and download the app to commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Learn about Carbon Offsets

I will spend 20 minutes learning about carbon offsets, and why they are a necessary solution in combating a climate crisis.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Plant Trees

Temperate Forest Restoration

I will plant 1 trees in my community, public parks, or backyard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Zero-Waste Cooking

Reduced Food Waste

I will cook 1 meals with zero-waste each day.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Solar Water Consultation

Solar Hot Water

I will contact a local installer/distributor to see if a solar water heater makes sense for my house.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Research Bottom-Trawling Seafloor Impacts

Seafloor Protection

Each day, I will spend at least 10 minutes learning more about how bottom-trawling impacts on the seafloor.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity

Research Electric Landscape Equipment

Research the benefits of trading in your gas-powered landscape equipment for electric, such as push mowers, riding lawn mowers, chain saws, and leaf blowers. Research incentives through your county or state.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Research the Wonders of Macroalgae / Seaweed

Macroalgae Protection and Restoration

Each day, I will spend at least 5 minutes learning more about protecting and restoring macroalgae/seaweed.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings

Learn about 'Green Gentrification'

Multiple Solutions

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning about green gentrification and how it relates to city planning for climate action.

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

Land Sinks

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

Tropical Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Micro Wind

Micro Wind Turbines

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of micro wind.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Cook With Seaweed

Seaweed Farming

I will use seaweed in a new recipe.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

Ocean Power

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Explore Other Transportation Solutions

All Transportation Solutions

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching other Drawdown Transportation Solutions.

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

Monica Amador 10/31/2024 9:36 AM
Being part of the
Drawdown Ecochallenge was very rewarding. I learned so much about ways to be more climate-conscious, and most of them are not hard to do. The decisions we make in our daily lives, even though small, make a huge impact on our planet. I will continue to do this and share with my friends and family because every little bit counts. I am doing this not just for myself but ultimately for my children, who already know so much about being good climate citizens.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks

How is planting trees good for your mental, physical, and spiritual health?
Monica Amador 10/25/2024 7:40 AM
Planting a tree is meaningful not only because you are creating a home for birds and shade but also because you are helping the environment by adding another absorber of CO2, which helps combat global warming. I have planted about 30 trees on my property, and before, it was mostly to give me privacy, but now it means much more. My goal this winter is to plant at least one more tree.

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Monica Amador 10/21/2024 8:46 AM
It was extra chilly today, and I was craving a nice warm coffee; I do my best not to consume single-use cups or support Starbucks, so I made one at home. I used some Organic Fairtrade de-caffeinated coffee, organic Fair Trade cacao powder, and local honey. It was so delicious. What I love the most about making things at home is that I don't have to drive anywhere, it's all organic, and you cannot really get anywhere without paying for an arm and a leg, and I don't use a single-use cup. It makes it taste much better knowing I am not harming the environment...as much.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity

What did you learn about wave and tidal energy? How do they compare to other energy sources?
Monica Amador 10/18/2024 8:20 AM
Tidal energy seems cool and efficient; the tides move in and out daily
, so it is a somewhat steady energy source. My only question is, how will this affect the animals that live in those tidal zones? Or the animals that depend on the tidal zones for protection and hiding. I feel there could be innovative solutions to these problems. This energy source compared to others is renewable because it happens everyday, it is just not a lot of energy, but still something pumping into the grid.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation

What did you find out? What is the most interesting fact you learned?
Monica Amador 10/17/2024 9:53 AM
I learned that the Amtrack train here in Salinas goes up north to Oregon, where we like to visit a few times a year. We are going to take advantage of this and utilize it when we can. The tickets are also much cheaper than plane tickets.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks

Are bamboo alternatives readily available in your community? If not, what are other sustainable alternatives?
Monica Amador 10/17/2024 9:50 AM
I do see bamboo products in stores sometimes, but I am always wary because of the glues and other chemicals they use on them. A sustainable alternative is not purchasing anything at all. A lot of those organizers and things just end up breaking for me anyway. The less in my house, the better.

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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?
Monica Amador 10/16/2024 9:33 AM
I think we can all agree that we all want the money savings of switching to an electric vehicle. I hate pumping gas in my car, and it is so expensive! I have a hybrid as well, but right now, I pump 70-80 dollars per week/week and a half. I have heard that charging an electric vehicle costs 10-20 dollars. I want that!

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Monica Amador 10/16/2024 9:16 AM
Living out of town, I am forced to drive everywhere I go; I am mindful of my driving habits and how fast I drive. Before, I would drive fast, accelerate alot, and waste gas. And for what, I would get to school and just sit in my car until class started. I don't do that anymore; I drive at the speed limit and don't accelerate like I used to. Since doing that, my gas tank will last me 3 to 4 more days! I am saving money and helping curb my carbon footprint. But my kids do ask me why I am driving so slow; I tell them it's so I don't kill too many insects. ;)

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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?
Monica Amador 10/16/2024 9:00 AM
We usually travel to Oregon to visit family a few times a year and take a plane at least once. But after learning how much planes pollute I looked into the train and I realized that the tickets for the train are much cheaper, it does take one day to get there, but we get to look at a lot of beautiful scenery on the way and not pollute so much as taking a flight. This year will be the first year we take the Amtrack from Salinas to Albany, Oregon

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity

After you determined your carbon footprint, did you see what different choices you can make in order to reduce it?
Monica Amador 10/16/2024 8:57 AM
I can reduce my carbon footprint by planning out my trips more efficiently, reducing meat consumption, composting more, and heating my home less in the winter. Investing in a heat pump instead of burning wood as well to heat my home in the cold months.

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