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FOOTPRINT

CHALLENGE 2A

Measure your own ecological footprint with an online Footprint calculator. The calculator tells you how many Earths would be required if everyone on the planet lived like you, and then suggests ways to reduce your ecological footprint. Take screenshots of the data you have received and explain how you can reduce your ecological footprint in the future and why it is important to do so.

CHALLENGE 2B

OBJECTIVES

Every single search query, every streamed song or video and every email sent, billions of times over all around the world – it all adds up to an ever-increasing global demand for electricity, and to rising CO2 emissions too. Our increasing reliance on digital tools has an environmental impact that’s becoming increasingly harder to ignore.

ACTIVITY

Listen to Season 5/Episode 3 of the Online Life is Real Life podcast about the Internet’s carbon footprint and create a short presentation about how you or your future company/ workplace can reduce your/their digital footprint. Make sure you refer to the podcast in your presentation.

CHALLENGE 2C

For this assignment you will need to go online and complete the ecological footprint quiz, which can be found at https://www.footprintcalculator.org/. You should take the quiz answering the questions with the way that you currently live your life. Be sure that as you complete the quiz you use the detailed responses on the bottom portion of the footprint widget. After you have finished the quiz you should look at and save the results for future reference. Click on the button for ways to reduce your footprint and read the suggestions.

You should then take the quiz again answering questions for ways that you could and actually would be willing to live that may reduce your overall ecological footprint. When you have completed the second quiz you should also save your results.


Compare the results from your first and second quiz. How do they differ? Did it change as much as you expected? Did it change in the same direction as you expected? Write two detailed paragraphs discussing the changes that you made and how it changed your ecological footprint. Be sure to list your footprint (in # of Earths needed) for both scenarios.

CHALLENGE 2D

Read the article “In India, life under coronavirus brings blue skies and clean air” about how lockdown impacted the carbon footprint we have. The article is about India where the Himalayan mountain range cannot be seen due to sever pollution. As your read, please answer the following questions in complete sentences.

  • What major change happened to the air in India because of lockdown?
  • Describe the positive and negative impacts lockdown had on the daily lives of people in this area.
    o Positive impacts:
    o Negative impacts:
  • Since smog is created by combustion of carbon-based fuels, based on what you read, what factors are creating smog in this area?
  • Give at least 2 ideas on how you would suggest this area reduce their air pollution (their carbon footprint).

CHALLENGE 2E

OBJECTIVES

In 2019, our world was forced to stop in a way that was completely unimaginable just a few years ago. As many people stayed home, businesses were closed and industries interrupted, our ecological footprints was changing before our eyes. The Coronavirus pandemic brought human impact on ecosystems worldwide to light in a clear way and taught us that massive, rapid change was possible in both policy and behavior. Since we were being forced to rethink how we live in the world, let’s reflect on how we may be able to step away from harmful habits in favor of adopting conscious choices, for today, tomorrow and into a more resilient future that we co-create.

ACTIVITY

We were seeing unprecedented change in our world because of the Coronavirus. The news was devastating, as the outbreak swept across our globe. Headlines were hard to read and realities difficult to believe, but we found small moments to breathe while reading stories about how air and water quality improved.

  • Share three ways that your own life and relationship with the environment now look different
  • Go online to look for three examples of how human interactions with the environment changed
  • Find one photo that captures what you are reading about; make sure to vet the image
  • Write a caption about how these learnings made you feel. These were hard times and here is no right response.

CHALLENGE 2F

OBJECTIVES

Small changes in daily habits or how we consume may not seem significant in a world of nearly 8 billion people, but every decision contributes to the wellbeing of humans, all species, and the planet we share. What would the world look like if each person simply consumed less and demanded more sustainably produced goods? What if we supported companies that choose to meet the highest standards for protecting the environment by prioritizing values like organic ingredients, sustainable materials, zero waste practices and other eco and socially conscious actions, rather than those with practices that harm the planet?

ACTIVITY

First, look at today’s video explaining the ecological footprint.

  • Share something you learned from watching in two sentences.

Next, calculate your carbon footprint using this calculator from Global Footprint Network.

  • What are your results? How many planets does it take to support your lifestyle?
  • What three activities in your life use the most resources?
  • Of these activities, which would be the hardest to change and why?
  • Which would be the easiest to change and why?

Choose one action you can take today to reduce your carbon footprint. This doesn’t have to be big. In fact, the more manageable, the better. Remember: every step counts, and consistency is key for success in creating lasting change).

CHALLENGE 2G

OBJECTIVES

Actors including James Franco, Ruth Wilson, Gabriel Byrne, Maxine Peake, Jeremy Irons, Kelly Macdonald and Michael Sheen read a series of 21 poems on the theme of climate change, curated by UK poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy.

ACTIVITY

Choose a poem from the ‘Our melting, shifting, liquid world’: celebrities read poems on climate change and analyze it. To analyze a poem, you must break it down into all its important elements and explain how they work together to create an effect or reinforce a meaning. Explain your ideas about your selected poem in a well-organized essay. Compose body paragraphs that effectively support your interpretation of the poem and explain how the poem conveys this message. Consider the questions below:

CHALLENGE 2H

OBJECTIVES

Plogging is a fitness trend that originated in Sweden and means picking up litter while jogging. The #plogging and #plogga hashtags are used by all kinds of people who combine exercise with picking up trash, including runners, walkers, hikers, cyclists, and even paddleboarders.

ACTIVITY

Plogging ( an eco-friendly fitness) is an activity that can be done by one person or a group. For those who like personalized workouts, then plogging solo would be the best option. However, for those who like to have their workout sessions in groups, then it would be best that they identify their clique. Whether alone or together, you can all help to keep our environment clean with a few simple gestures. Arrange your first plogging tour!

CHALLENGE 2 I

OBJECTIVES
Burning fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. The buildup of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases like methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) is causing the Earth’s atmosphere to warm, resulting in changes to the climate we are already starting to see today.

In many cities and towns, the personal automobile is the single greatest polluter because emissions from millions of vehicles on the road add up. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, individuals can use cleaner modes of transportation to get around, from carpooling to biking and walking.

ACTIVITY
Each of us can reduce our impact on the environment. Think about it – every time two people share a ride, they are helping to reduce emissions from cars by half! Reducing vehicle emissions helps combat global warming, improves air quality and has positive effects on public health.

Create a carpool event at your school. Include an announcement and information on the school website, in the daily bulletins, and in the school newsletter. If you cannot find someone to carpool with, you can take the bus, walk, or ride a bicycle to school!

CHALLENGE 2 J

OBJECTIVES

Is Bitcoin bad for the environment? Unlike most forms of currency issued by single entities (usually central banks), Bitcoin is based on a decentralized network. Its transactions are approved by different miners who simultaneously solve complex equations using specific hardware and plenty of energy. 

ACTIVITY

Find out information about Bitcoin’s/NFTs environmental impact/ effects and present your findings in a visual way. Check some of my curated resources.

CHALLENGE 2K

OBJECTIVES

Did you know that your ‘carbon footprint’ is not always the best way to think about your personal impact on the planet? Did you know that looking at our climate shadow rather than carbon footprint might be a better idea?

There has long been a debate about how much individual actions matter when it comes to climate. The oil industry’s promotion of the concept of the carbon footprint has led some to believe that the whole idea is a huge distraction technique to divert attention from corporations driving the crisis. But as Greta Thunberg demonstrates, individuals can have a big impact, just not always in ways that can be measured. (Source: The Guardian)

ACTIVITY

Imagine you have met Emma Pattee, Oregon-based climate journalist, who coined a useful concept called the climate shadow. Create a podcast where you interview her.

Podcast Requirements:
• Your podcast must be at least 5 minutes in length (no more than 10 minutes total).
• Your podcast MUST include all of the following:
o An introduction
o Some background music in the podcast somewhere
o At least two people speaking ( to increase auditory interest/ one person will be Emma and another person will be an interviewer)
o A conclusion

Below are a few of the tools you might consider during your planning and producing stages.

Share your podcast on Teams and social media to reach a larger audience.

CHALLENGE 2L

OBJECTIVES

This task will allow you to explore the use of AI in home design and gain a deeper understanding of sustainable design principles. By using AI tools, you will be able to create a visual representation of your sustainable home in an efficient and innovative way.

ACTIVITY

  1. Research: Study the latest trends and techniques in sustainable home design. Gather inspiration from magazines, books, and websites.
  2. Concept Development: Define the theme and style of the sustainable home. Create a mood board to help guide the design process. Consider aspects such as the use of sustainable materials, energy efficiency, and natural lighting.
  3. Sketching: Use AI tools to generate rough sketches of the interior and exterior designs. Experiment with different layouts, furnishings, and materials.
  4. Refining: Refine the sketches and use AI to generate realistic images of the interior and exterior designs. Consider aspects such as lighting, texture, and color.
  5. Virtual Tour: Use virtual reality tools to create a virtual tour of the sustainable home. This can be done by creating a 3D model of the home and allowing the user to walk through it.
  6. Presentation: Present the virtual tour of the sustainable home to a group of classmates or peers. Discuss the design choices and the sustainability features of the home.
  7. Reflection: Write a reflection on the process of using AI tools to create a visual representation of a sustainable home. Discuss any challenges faced and the benefits of using AI in this process.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES-VIDEOS/ARTICLES/BLOGS

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