Online Sustainability Scavenger Hunt

Katia Carranza — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 23:10:11 +0000

Do you need more activities during your shelter-in-place life? Do you want to reduce your impact on the planet? Take part in the Online Sustainability Scavenger Hunt organized by the City of San Rafael and Partners, so you can learn strategies for being more sustainable while connecting with local organizations working for climate action.

Rules:

This virtual contest will start June 15th and end July 20th, and we will release two challenges every week on Monday through partner Facebook and list-serves. Each challenge will be worth five points, and the participant with the most points will win. The winner will be recognized as a San Rafael Sustainability Superhero and featured as a Climate Action Role Model on the SanRafaelClimateAction.org website!

All challenges that require research can be answered by doing some scavenging on the website included in the challenge description. Responses should be sent to Scavenger Hunt Referee Katia Carranza at katia.carranza@cityofsanrafael.org. Remember many websites have a handy dandy search option where you can type relevant terms!

If you join the Scavenger Hunt late, no worries! You can still participate and complete all the challenges released prior to your participation. However, all challenges are due by the July 20th.

Challenges:

Visit this page for more details and to see all the challenges, including the first challenge released this upcoming Monday, June 15th!

Week One Challenge: Renewable Energy

In order to reduce our carbon emissions, we have to stay up to date with the latest sustainability strategies. Switching to renewable energy is an important step to mitigating climate change because when compared to coal-powered energy, wind energy releases up to 70 to 180 times less carbon dioxide and solar energy releases up to 20 to 50 times less carbon dioxide according to the Union of Concerned Scientists .

From SanRafaelClimateAction.org

1. Write a short blurb explaining how you can switch all of your energy to renewable energy. Submit your response.

2. Sign up for the San Rafael Climate Action newsletter on our website.

Week Two Challenge: Sea Level Rise

According to the BayKeeper, the sea level could rise between 16 to 66 inches in the Bay Area. The time to take climate action and reduce our carbon footprint and sea level rise is now!

3. From Drawdown Marin: Make a Pledge with DearTomorrow at https://www.deartomorrow.org/drawdown-marin to take action on climate change for the next generation. Submit a screenshot of your pledge.

4. From SanRafaelClimateAction.org: Find out if your home is vulnerable to sea level rise. Submit your response.

Week Three Challenge: REFUSE, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Changing our consumption patterns can have significant impacts on climate change by purchasing and throwing away less products. According to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, zero waste strategies can efficiently mitigate climate change as they could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 406 megatons CO2 eq. per year by 2030, or the equivalent of closing 27% of USA coal plants

5. From Marin Sanitary Service (MSS): Visit this MSS link and write a short blurb identifying two ways you can reduce waste during the pandemic based on the recent blog posts. Submit your response.

6. From SanRafaelClimateAction.org: Take a picture of yourself composting, and submit it.

Week Four Challenge: Clean Transportation

According to the EPA, transportation is the largest contributor the greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 39% of them, and over the past 30 years, it has increased the most.

7. From Drive Clean Marin: Identify an Electric Vehicle charging station in San Rafael and take a picture next to it or write its location. Submit your picture or response.

8. From Green Committee San Rafael Chamber of Commerce: Ride your bike to pick up your take-out food instead of driving. Submit your picture.

Week Five Challenge: If Not Renewable, Energy Efficiency

You can save money when you save energy and reduce your electricity consumption! According to Cornell University, a phantom load that uses energy when appliances are on standby can cost the average home $200 per year.

9 . From City of San Rafael: Write a short blurb explaining a Green House call. Extra five points if you schedule one online and send us proof. Submit your response.

10. From City of San Rafael: Write a short blurb explaining two methods for reducing phantom load. Submit your response.

Extra Credit:

Invite five Facebook friends to like the City of San Rafael Green Initiatives FB Page. Submit a list of people (first and last name) that ACCEPTED the invitation to LIKE the FB page. You will get a point for every person that accepted the invitation, with a 15 point limit on the Extra Credit.

Partners:

Marin Sanitary Service

Drive Clean Marin

Resilient Neighborhoods

MCE Clean Energy

Sustainability Team County of Marin

Drawdown Marin

Who knew that climate action could be so much fun?!

jmyhre2021@marincatholic.org — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 21:53:40 +0000

The Earth Allies Climate Action Team came together for five meetings to learn about climate change and take actions to do something about it. These teams are run by Resilient Neighborhoods and offered free of charge at various locations around Marin. On a Climate Action Team, you calculate your carbon footprint and take measurable steps to reduce it with support from the team and program leaders. Then, you get your family prepared for emergencies like wildfires and power outages. The Earth Allies felt amazing to have achieved meaningful results with great people who also care, instead of wasting time worrying! Maureen “Mo” De Nieva-Marsh, RxSafe Marin.

Speak out about what you value

jmyhre2021@marincatholic.org — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 21:45:05 +0000

As a student member of the City of San Rafael’s Climate Change Action Plan Working Group, I have worked to adopt the City of San Rafael’s new Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) in an effort to combat climate change and create a more resilient community. By including myself and other students in their discussions and decisions, this working group has given the youth of San Rafael a platform to advocate for the things we value. At a recent City Council meeting where the CCAP was discussed, I spoke out about what I value: measures to protect our community and our world from our changing climate. The City Council heard me, and our new Climate Change Action Plan has been adopted! Charlotte Kamman, Marin School of Environmental Leadership.

I chose to speak out

jmyhre2021@marincatholic.org — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 21:31:04 +0000

I chose to speak out for my city!

I represented the youth at city meetings on behalf of climate action. My generation will have to experience the worst of the climate crisis. The more we do on a local level to actively combat this crisis, making our city more sustainable and resilient, ensures that our kids and grandkids will be able to happily live in the beautiful city of San Rafael. Promote awareness and educate others on the climate problems. Do all you can, and encourage others as well, to be more green and to use energy efficient options. Carpool, drive electric, and use solar panels whenever you can! And go to meetings and speak out! Ana Ostrovsky, Marin School of Environmental Leadership.

Action Areas – San Rafael Climate Action