Renewable and Consumer worksheet

What is meant by “natural building”, and what are some of the types of materials used?

o       It is a term used for any building made with primarily natural materials. This also means that the building process tries to use least amount of energy and bad resources (like fossil fuels) as possible.

o       Natural, non-industrial materials; rock, strawbale, cordwood, timber

How much water does the average person in the US use each day?

o       Between 100 to 250 gallons each day

What are some simple ways of conserving water? What is “gray water”?

o       Low water capacity toilets, flow restrictors on shower heads, and faucet aerators

o       Gray water is taking water from bathing, clothes washing, and bathroom sinks to water plants. Catching rainwater can also be used for domestic use and switching to composting toilets.

Green Building Supply: Are there different types of bamboo flooring?

yes, there are different types of bamboo flooring, ; solid, engineered, tongue and groove

What type of plant is bamboo? (You may have to do some of your own research on bamboo).

-It’s a type of grass, a part of the grass family Poaceae

Home Power Magazine: Passive Solar Design (Designing Your Place in the Sun)– According to the figure on page 63, for a home at 40°N what are the respective noon sun angles for March 21, June 21, September 21, and December 21? What is magnetic declination?

-March 21 & September 21 = 50 degrees, June 21= 73 degrees, December 21=27 degrees

-When a compass points north, it varies from about 25 degrees from true north

Better World Shopper: Clothing – Rank the following: J Crew, Ralph Lauren, Patagonia, North Face

1.     Patagonia (A+)

2.     North Face (B-)

3.     J Crew (C)

4.     Ralph Lauren (F)

Ice Cream – Rank the following: Haagen Dazs, Klondike, Ben & Jerry’s

1.     Ben & Jerry’s (A-)

2.     Klondike (D)

3.     Haagen Dazs (F)

Coffee – Rank the following: Starbuck’s, Folgers, Thanksgiving

1.     Thanksgiving (A)

2.     Starbucks (B+)

3.     Folgers (F)

Computers – Rank the following: Apple, Microsoft, Samsung

1.     Apple (B+)

2.     Samsung (C-)

3.     Microsoft (F)

Cars – Rank the following: Ford, Mercedes, Subaru, Toyota

1.     Toyota (B)

2.     Subaru (C)

3.     Mercedes (D+)

4.     Ford (F)

Seafood Selector: What is the better choice – wild Alaskan salmon or farmed salmon?

-        Wild alaskan salmon

What is the better choice – Pacific halibut or Atlantic halibut?

• Pacific halibut

Is bluefin tuna a responsible choice? How about imported shrimp – good choice or bad?

-  Bluefin tuna is the worst choice

-  Imported shrimp is the worst choice