April 9, 2012
If you’re a new reader of this blog, you may not have seen this popular quiz. Take it to test your "green IQ"!
1. WATER: USE IT, DON’T ABUSE IT
a) I don’t buy water in plastic bottles. Water from the tap is just fine, and I don’t want to put more non-biodegradable plastic into landfills.
b) I turn off the water until after I’ve finished brushing my teeth, and wash all the dishes in one sinkful of soapy water, rather than running water the whole time I’m washing the dishes.
c) I have cut my soda consumption down by more than half. I like water better, anyway.
2. ELECTRICITY: BEING SMART ABOUT THE POWER THAT I USE
a) I have replaced all the incandescent bulbs in my house with compact fluorescent bulbs.
b) We are using less energy by keeping our house two degrees warmer in the summer and two degrees cooler in the winter.
c) I unplug appliances when they are not in use for long periods of time. If they’re plugged and even when they are not turned on, they still consume electricity.
3. TRANSPORTATION: CONSERVING ON THE ROAD
a) I walk or bike rather than be driven whenever I can, and try to combine errands into one trip.
b) I am writing to my local government to ask them to design car-free zones and parks that would let people get places by walking, cycling, or driving those cute, tiny electric vehicles.
c) Next time my family buys a car, we want to pick a model that gets good gas mileage, and therefore uses less fuel.
4. FOOD: THINKING ABOUT THE COST OF WHAT I EAT
a) I don’t like vegetables, so I just don’t eat any. You’re not responsible for greenhouse gases generated by growing food that you don’t eat!
b) I only buy fruits and vegetables when they are in season so they are not flown in from tropical climates. And I try to buy produce that is grown locally, which further reduces the carbon footprint.
c) Our family has "meatless Monday" every week.
ANSWERS
1. While all these things help, "c" is the best answer. The main ingredient of soft drinks is water - so the big soda companies use massive amounts of water on a global basis. And, cutting down on soda consumption is good for your body, too!
2. "b" is the best answer. Electric power generation is a big source of greenhouse gases - the average home contributes more to global warming than the average car. The worst appliances are air conditioners, which use up to 1/6th of the electricity in the U.S.
3. All good answers, but "c" is the most important thing all Americans can do. By using existing technology to produce vehicles that go farther on a gallon of gas and emit less carbon dioxide pollution, Americans can save billions of dollars, reduce global warming pollution, and slash our dependence on oil.
4. You may be surprised to learn that the most effective choice is "c". Raising animals for food generates more emissions than all of the world’s transportation combined. And for all of you who answered "a"....eat your vegetables, they’re good for you!
Classes can enter Seymour Simon’s YOUR EARTH DAY PROMISES contest! Tell Seymour what your class is doing to help take care of the Earth, and you will be entered into a drawing to win a FREE Skype session with Seymour Simon. Click here for all the details about the YOUR EARTH DAY PROMISES contest.
Posted by: Liz Nealon
