Showing posts with label green living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label green living. Show all posts

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Eco-Driver

www.ecoDriver.org


 

TASKS


 

  1. 1. Which of these features are Fuel Savers or Gas Guzzlers?


 

  • Large engine
  • Overdrive
  • Trip computer
  • Power seats
  • Air conditioning
  • Tinted glasses
  • Sunroof
  • Heated seats
  • Manual transmission
  • Tachometer
  • 4-wheel drive
  • Power locks
  • Cruise control


     

    (Answers: 2, 3,6,9,10,13 are Fuel Savers.)


  •  

    1. 2. Order the words in this text:

      Your the and Planet Help Wallet

      fuel just can year by save a you hundreds of dollars, a and reduce Reducing your tanks personal consumption emissions ten by almost tone.

      because kilograms litre gasoline carbon every burned in a car's atmosphere releases 2.3 That's of of dioxide into the that's earth's engine.

      is change dioxide greenhouse primary Carbon the climate contributing gas to.


       

    Note: This exercise will be made easier if you cut word strips, rather than have them printed on a handout. The three sentences can be in three different colours or in different fonts. You can also give each member of a group of three one sentence.


     


     


     

    3. Look at the estimated annual fuel costs for different cars.

    Compare the costs (Exercise in reading numbers.)

    Which one would you buy? Why? (Discussion, giving opinion.)


     

     

    Best in class 

    10th best 

    Median 

    Hybrid 

    $1,025 

    $1,925 

    $1,825 

    Compact 

    $1,575 

    $1,850 

    $2,268 

    Mid-size 

    $1,700 

    $1,925 

    $2,754 

    Full-size 

    $2,000 

    $2,400 

    $3,105 

    Van/Minivan 

    $2,100 

    $2,775 

    $3,575 


     

    Based on 20,000 km, $1.25/litre, $1.35 premium
    and NRCan fuel efficiency ratings for 2008.

    Note: each year, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) produces a free booklet that compiles fuel efficiency ratings for all new cars. Online fuel consumption ratings can be found at: www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/transportation


     

    1. 4. Insert an article: a, an, the or zero:

    Welcome to the Idle-Free Zone

    For Individuals

    As __ individual, you can be instrumental in reducing __environmental impacts. If every driver of __ light duty vehicle avoided ___ idling by three minutes __ day, collectively over ___ year, we would save 630 million litres of ___fuel, over 1.4 million tonnes of GHG emissions, and $630 million annually in___ fuel costs (assuming fuel costs are $1.00/L).

    (Answers: an,0, a, 0, a, the, 0, 0)

    Saturday, January 23, 2010

    Live Green!

    Use the correct tense of the verbs in brackets:

    1. If residents _____ (be) to eat 50 per cent of their food from a local source, the reduction of emissions _____ (be) similar to the family owning a hybrid.

    1. If you ______(think) of installing a hardwood floor, ______ (consider) reclaimed materials or look for new wood products that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Canada.

    1. If you ______ (use)use low-flow shower heads, you ______ (use) 70% less water than standard shower.

    1. If you ________ (install) new kitchen cabinetry, _______ (avoid) those made with particleboard boxes that may leach harmful gases like urea formaldehyde resin.

    1. If you ________ (plan) native flowers, trees and grasses in your garden, you ________ (minimize) the need for pesticides and watering.

    1. If you _______ (have) a party, ______ (make) it a charitable affair!

    These sentences can also be used for a Find a Partner game, so that they are split in halves and given out to students who have to find their matching half.

    Sunday, July 19, 2009

    Composting

    Composting is an important way to recycle and can be done at home. It is an easy way to reduce the amount of household garbage by about one third. As well, it produces a valuable soil amendment for use in gardening and landscaping.

    What's In the Mix?
    Most household organic waste can be composted at home. For backyard or home composting to work best, it is important to use selected material including:
    From the Garden...
    Leaves (chopped - to speed their breakdown)
    Grass (not wet)
    Plants & Weeds (without ripe seeds)
    Old potting soil
    Soft plant stems

    From the Kitchen..
    Fruit scraps
    Vegetable trimmings
    Egg shells (crushed)
    Tea bags
    Coffee grounds with filters
    Shredded paper

    DO NOT include...

    Meat, fish and bones
    Plastics
    Metals
    Fats and oils
    Dairy products
    Pet waste
    Cheese, meat or other sauces

    Green Consumer

    Is it possible for well-intentioned consumers to see through all the greenwashing and really find environmentally sound products? Yes, but it’s not easy. And as I found out, it’s the most difficult when you are shopping at retail stores, since you’re at the mercy of labels and sales clerks.

    Shopping online, however, makes it easier to find legitimate green products. There are a variety of Web sites that provide tips and vet green products for you, such as greenyour.com and ecomall.com. There are also sites like greenerchoices.org that provide more information about green labeling and evaluate the certifications found on many types of organic and other environmental goods.

    Wednesday, January 21, 2009

    Alternatives That Will Clean

    Fill in: will clean, will remove, will take out or will make:

    Salt _____ _______ wine or fruit stains.
    Club soda _______ ______ lighter coloured stains.
    Baking soda and cornstarch _______ _______ good deodorizers.
    A paste of baking soda, salt and water ________ ________ your oven.
    One part water to one part vinegar in a spray bottle _______ ________ most areas of your home.
    Vinegar _____ ________ toilet bowl stains.


    Learn more:
    Green Clean: The Environmentally Sound Guide to Cleaning Your Home by Linda Mason Hunter, Mikki Halpin (Melcher Media,2005)
    The Naturally Clean Home: 101 Safe and Easy Herbal Formulas for Non-Toxic Cleansers by Karyn Siegel-Maier (Storey Publishing,1999)
    Clean and Green: The Complete Guide to Non-Toxic and Environmentally Safe Housekeeping by Annie Berthold-Bond (Ceres Press, 1994)
    You Tube, search for Lindsay Coulter (demos how you can make your own candles, cleaning material etc.)

    Source: Natural Life Magazine, January/February 2009

    Thursday, November 20, 2008

    Are You Able or Unable?

    Recycle paper at your centre?

    Use both sides for photocopying?

    Compost?

    Turn off lights when you are not in the room?

    Turn off computers at the end of the day?

    Use biodegradable dishwashers and toilet cleaners?

    Eliminate styrofoam cups and plates?

    Eliminate plastic cutlery?

    Eliminate white boards / markers?

    Adjust the thermostat by 1 degree down in winter and 1 degree up in summer?