1. Do Now.
Make a list of at least 10 features/aspects/characteristics of your “dream house” -be detailed and specific

2. Environmental Science

3. Biotic & Abiotic Influences
Ecosystem: all the living organisms that share a physical & chemical environment
e.g. pond
forest
oasis

4. Biotic & Abiotic Influences
Biotic Factors: living things, their remains, and features, such as nests, associated with their activities

5. Biotic & Abiotic Influences
Abiotic Factors: the non-living physical and chemical components of an ecosystem
e.g. rocks
oxygen
water
sunlight

6. Biotic & Abiotic Influences

7. Biotic & Abiotic Influences
Sustainable Ecosystem: an ecosystem that is maintained through natural processes

8. Biotic & Abiotic Influences
Sustainable Ecosystem: an ecosystem that is maintained through natural processes
Sustainability: the ability to maintain natural ecological conditions without weakening

9. Is human
population
growth
sustainable?

10. Sustainability Nature has sustained itself for billions of years
Our lives and economies depend on energy from the sun and on resources provided by the earth.

11. Three Principles of Sustainability

12. Types of Resources Perpetual – basically never-ending (Solar energy)
Renewable – regenerate within days to a few hundred years (fresh water)
Non-Renewable – gone once used (fossil fuels)

14. Pollution Sources of pollution Main type of pollutants Point sources
E.g., smokestack
Nonpoint sources
E.g., pesticides blown into the air
Main type of pollutants
Biodegradable
break down over time
Nondegradable
can’t be broken down

15. Point-Source Air Pollution
Figure 1.10: This point-source air pollution rises from a pulp mill in New York State (USA).
Fig. 1-10, p. 14

16. Nonpoint Source Water Pollution
Figure 1.11: The trash in this river came from a large area of land and is an example of nonpoint water pollution.
Fig. 1-11, p. 14

17. Ecological Footprint
the amount of land and water needed to provide an indefinite supply of renewable resources, and to recycle wastes and pollution
More people, bigger footprint
More resource requirements, bigger footprint
 Unsustainable: footprint is larger than Earth’s ability to replenish

18. Four Causes of Environmental Problems:
Population growth
Wasteful and unsustainable resource use
Poverty
Prices of resources do not reflect the harmful environmental costs of consuming resource
For each of these causes, what environmental problems result?

19. Three Big Ideas
renewable energy from the sun (including indirect forms ex. wind and flowing water) can meet most of our heating and electricity needs.

20. Three Big Ideas
protect biodiversity by preventing the degradation ecosystems, and by restoring areas we have degraded.

21. Three Big Ideas
sustain the earth’s natural chemical cycles by reducing our production of wastes and pollution, and not removing natural chemicals faster than those chemical cycles can replace them.

22. Earth-conscious Dream House
Now using your list from earlier, research how you could improve the features of your dream house to be environmentally-friendly.
Think and Research: What technology exists that won’t harm the planet?
Add five additional features to your list that would make your Dream House environmentally-friendly.