Material adapted from: https://esohelpstheplanet.wordpress.com/
CARBON FOOTPRINT (animation)
HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
Answer the following questions:
1. How can you calculate your carbon footprint?
2. What information will you need to calculate it?
3. What do the companies that offer carbon-offset programs do? (Step 4)
4. Who causes the global warming mainly?
HOW TO REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT?
PRE-VIEWING ACTIVITY
I Match the words with the definitions. Write the letter next to the corresponding number:
1. Concern a) The clothes you need to wash
2. Turn up b) Something you only use once and then throw away
3. Turn down c) To reduce
4. Turn off d) To disconnect an electric wire from a socket
5. Heating e) The one you use to wash things in your kitchen and your bathroom
6. To insulate f) To use electricity
7. To unplug g) That machine in the kitchen that washes dishes, cups, glasses…
8. To draw power h) To increase the volume or intensity of something
9. Laundry i) The maximum capacity of something
10. Dishwasher J) A bag made of cloth used to carry your shopping
11. Full load K) To decrease the volume or intensity of something
12. Canvas tote l) Worry that people have about a situation
13. Average m) To keep something warm by covering it with something thick
14. Disposable n) To do or get something for somebody usually by making a short trip
15. To cut back o) To share a car with other people
16. Tap water p) The result of adding two or more numbers together and dividing between the numbers you added
17. To run an errand q) To move the switch of something so it stops working
18. Carpool r) The system or equipment that’s used to heat a building so people feel comfortable when it’s cold
II Now watch the video and answer the questions:
- What is your carbon footprint?
- What will you need to reduce your carbon footprint?
III Use the words in the box below to fill in the blanks of the TEN STEPS TO REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT. Write a cross (X) on the right hand-side column if you already take that step, write a + if you think you can do it .
| laundry / delicious/ heating/ bulbs/ unplug/ pounds/ jump /earth/ mug/ load insulate /ship /fuel /trips/ draw/ average/ proud/ can/ 75%/ tap/ reduce / 65% |
| STEP 1 | Turn your thermostat up in the summer, down in the winter by just two degrees and you’ll prevent hundreds of ……………… of carbon dioxide from being released each year. Close doors to rooms you are not using to maximize ………………… and air conditioning. ……………… windows and doors to save even more heating costs | |
| STEP 2 | Turn off and ………………… your computer, TV and other electronics when you are not using them. Even electronics in sleep mode ……………… power. Leaving your TV cable box on 24 hours a day uses about ……….. as much energy as a standard refrigerator. | |
| STEP 3 | Change all the incandescent …………………… in your home to compact fluorescent bulbs which use about ………………… less energy | |
| STEP 4 | Do your ………………….. or run a dishwasher only when you have a full …………………. It saves water and is an excuse no to clean. | |
| STEP 5 | Eat local. An organic, out of season vegetable from the other side of the world may sound …………………., but it had to make that trip on a huge container ………………. Take a canvas tote with you shopping so you have a ready and better answer to the question paper or plastic? (bags) | |
| STEP 6 | Bring your own cup or …………. when you buy coffee and stop tossing an……………………………… 20 pounds of disposable cups a year. | |
| STEP 7 | Cut back on bottled water. Most …………. water is perfectly safe to drink and making the plastic and transporting the bottles uses huge quantities of fossil ………………….. | |
| STEP 8 | Plant a tree. Trees help …………………… greenhouse gases and every one counts. Consider it a peace offering to the ……………………. | |
| STEP 9 | Don’t ……………… in a car every time you feel the urge to run an errand. Plan and consolidate your ……………… to cut down on gas | |
| STEP 10 | When you ………….., carpool, use public transportation, or ride a bicycle, or walk, ……………………… to be treading lightly. |
Worksheet to print
