Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge 2024

Jayson Wasserfuhr

McPherson College - Environmental Science

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
375 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

11

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

1.0

public official or leader

contacted
UP TO

1.0

advocacy action

completed
UP TO

10

conversations

with people
UP TO

135

minutes

spent learning

Jayson's 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 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity

Spread the Word about Energy Alternatives

All Electricity Solutions

I will research and tell 2 people each day about the benefits of alternative energy sources like wind turbines, solar energy, geothermal energy, and methane digesters.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

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

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

Reduce Single-Use Disposables

Bioplastics; Reduced Plastics

I will avoid buying and using 2 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity

Support Companies Leading in Green Energy

Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaics, Distributed Solar Photovoltaics

I will use my spending power to reward companies leading in creating or purchasing green energy and incentivize others to invest more in green energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Learn about Biochar

Biochar Production

I will spend 45 minutes learning about biochar and how it can help sequester carbon.

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Use Muscle Power

Multiple Transportation Solutions

I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips, and I will only use muscle-powered transportation for all other trips.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings

Research Retrofitting Incentives

Building Retrofitting

I will spend at least 25 minutes finding out if my city, region, state, or country offers incentives for retrofitting existing buildings.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings

Learn about 'Green Gentrification'

Multiple Solutions

I will spend at least 25 minutes learning about green gentrification and how it relates to city planning for climate action.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Express My Support For Equitable Biking Infrastructure

Bicycle Infrastructure

I will find out who in my city makes decisions that impact bike routes and express my support for better biking infrastructure.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn About Cattle Farming

Improved Cattle Feed; Improved Manure Management

I will spend 25 minutes researching cattle feed and manure management, or visiting a dairy farm to learn about their farming practices.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
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
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

How does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?

Jayson Wasserfuhr 11/14/2024 4:23 PM

Now I know that there are differences. I will not throw product away once their expiration date is due. I learned that it is just a "guess" of how long the products are eatable. I will now look for every product if its still good to eat or not. I think I will throw less things away and instead give every product a real chance. And I will safe a bit of money, because every time I bought something and it got "old" is would have thrown it away. Now I use my purchased products in a more efficient and sustainable way.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Learn About Cattle Farming

What did you learn from visiting or researching a dairy farm?

Jayson Wasserfuhr 11/14/2024 4:18 PM

A dairy farm is a farm for long time milk production. It produces, most of the times, a mass of milk in a short time. Oftentimes it is harmful to the cows because there are to many cows on a to small space. And the living conditions are often very poor. But there are good examples too! Farms with open fields and wide grass areas built a sustainable and good living space for the cows.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation Express My Support For Equitable Biking Infrastructure

What do you like most about biking in your city? What would you like to improve?

Jayson Wasserfuhr 11/13/2024 2:27 PM

In my hometown, we have beautiful landscapes that lead through and all the way around my hometown. The bike trails will lead you through forests, cities and rivers. You will see many different kinds of environment.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation Use Muscle Power

How do your transportation choices affect your engagement in your community? Does your experience or enjoyment differ while walking, riding transit, biking or driving?

Jayson Wasserfuhr 11/13/2024 2:23 PM

My choices affect my engagement in a positive way. I spend more time by deciding what trip I really need to do and how i get there as fast as possible. I used other opportunites to get to my final destinations.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings Research Retrofitting Incentives

How can you share what you have learned in your research with others?

Jayson Wasserfuhr 11/13/2024 2:11 PM

I can share it orally or share my experiences via social media and messengers.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings Learn about 'Green Gentrification'

Cities and towns need to plan for climate change. How can your city or town make its climate action plans equitable and socially just?

Jayson Wasserfuhr 11/13/2024 2:09 PM

At first, my town should spent time and effort in evolving agriculture. New and more efficient machines could help to reduce water pollution and emissions. Also, my town should invest in protection of the environment. My town is growing fast and landscapes get destroyed.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks Learn about Biochar

Can biochar provide additional benefits besides sequestering carbon?

Jayson Wasserfuhr 11/12/2024 9:57 AM

A substitute for chemical fertilizers, but also a way to efficently deal with agricultural waste.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks Smart Seafood Choices

Many states and countries have advisories on eating fish. Find out what is advised for your region. Do you think your diet choices fall within these guidelines? What steps do you need to take to make sure that they do?

Jayson Wasserfuhr 11/12/2024 9:55 AM

My region uses policies to control the fishing industry and our behaveiour. The industry gets some moeny punishments if the overfish for example.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry Choose Recycled Paper

Good job on choosing recycled paper! How can you take your action a step further?

Jayson Wasserfuhr 11/12/2024 9:50 AM

I can use the recycled paper on a daily basis and also transfer the paper trend for other actions. I could use paper bags to by me groceries instead of using plastic bags. I also could tell my friends about the importance of using recycled paper so maybe thy start using it too.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Support Companies Leading in Green Energy

Every dollar you put into solar or wind is a dollar not put into traditional financial institutions. You'll also be bolstering the fossil fuel divestment movement, too. Name some companies you know that invest in green energy. How can you support them?

Jayson Wasserfuhr 11/12/2024 9:48 AM

I can name German companies that invest in green energy. For example EOS oder ABO Energy. These are two companies that are trying to use and create green energy for different kinds of use.

Read More