G OING G REEN AND SUSTAINABILITY Unit 6: Sustainable Design STEM

I. G OING G REEN a. Choosing to be more environmentally friendly

II. E NERGY AND W ATER E FFICIENCY a. Reducing the amount of fossil fuel energy you use improves the environment and saves utility costs. i. Lighting ii. Equipment iii. Water

III. L IGHTING a. Fluorescent Lights - Replace standard incandescent bulbs with fluorescent tubes or compact bulbs b. Daylight - Take advantage of daylight. When using natural light, you may be able to turn off some of your electric lights c. Turn off lights - Turn off lights when not in use. If you leave a room, turn the lights off behind you

IV. E QUIPMENT a. Turn off equipment b. Turn off computer monitors c. Use a power strip d. Unplug chargers and adapters

V. W ATER a. Don’t let water run b. Fix leaks immediately c. Lower water heater temperature

VI. R EDUCE, R ECYCLE, R EUSE

W HAT CAN WE DO ? a. Reduce the amount of waste. b. Recycle items into new products through a manufacturing process. c. Reuse the product in a different way.

VII. R EDUCE Packaging a. Compare product packaging b. Buy loose items c. Buy economy sizes d. Use concentrated product e. Buy in bulk V III. R ECYCLE What Where a. Paper b. Glass c. Aluminum d. Plastic e. Curbside Collection f. Drop-off Centers g. Buy Back Centers

IX. H OW MANY YEARS TO DISAPPEAR ? Disposable Diaper years Cotton Sock 5-6 months Styrofoam Cup 1 million years + Glass Bottle 1 million years + Leather Belt years Wooden Block years Banana Peel 3-4 weeks Cardboard Box 1-2 months Plastic Bottle 1 million years + Aluminum Can years

X. R EUSE – USING AN ITEM MORE THAN ONCE a. Consider reusable products. b. Maintain and repair durable products. c. Reuse bags, containers, and other items. d. Borrow, rent, or share items. e. Sell or donate goods instead of throwing them out.

XI. S USTAINABILITY - ( THINGS CAN KEEP GOING AND SUSTAIN THEMSELVES INTO THE FUTURE ) a. Sustainability for our planet means it can continue to do what it was designed to do (provide fresh air, clean water, produce food, and allow for a high quality of life) b. The earth is a system and everything is connected (society, environment, and economy) c. To live sustainability follow these four care principles: i. Reduce dependence on fossil fuels ii. Reduce dependence of synthetic chemicals/materials iii. Reduce destruction of nature iv. Ensure were not stopping people globally from meeting their needs