Going+Green

Be Aware

**Recent Articles About Green Initiatives in Baltimore (from the **__**Baltimore Sun **__**) **
 * [|Balto. County Single Stream Recycling] : Baltimore County has started using "single stream" recycling, which allows residents to put all recyclables together in one container, rather than the traditional method of requiring residents to separate the items. The county hopes this will encourage more residents to recycle.
 * [|Alternative View to Single Stream] : A Baltimore Sun reader responds with an opinion that single-stream recycling not isn't necessarily better for the environment, and could hurt local jobs.
 * [|A New Smokestack Cleans Baltimore's Air]: Constellation Energy completed a project at their Brandon Shores power plant, which "scrubs" their pollution clean. Now it's mostly water vapor that comes out of the smokestacks, instead of toxic chemicals.
 * Several articles tracing the Baltimore City Council's push to fine people and stores for using plastic bags. This is also related to news in Washington, DC, which has implemented a five cent fee per plastic bag. Some feel that this move will negatively impact the city's poor.
 * [|Offshore Windmills]: Looking at a study by Baltimore-based Abell Foundation, which looks at the profit and environmental benefits of installing windmills off the coast of Maryland in the Atlantic.
 * [|UB Environmental Studies]: The University of Baltimore Board of Regents approved the addition of an environmental studies major.
 * [|Making an Old Rowhouse More Energy Efficient]: Making old Baltimore rowhomes more energy efficient, taking advantage of grants offered by the Abell Foundation, Maryland Energy Administration, and Baltimore Community Foundation.
 * [|Baltimore's Green Building Law]: A Baltimore law requiring buildings to be energy efficient and environmentally friendly in design and construction is facing problems, as regulations and rules have not yet been made public. The law was supposed to take affect in 2009.


 * Recent Articles About Green Initiatives Outside of Baltimore (from The New York Times) **
 * [|Airline Trash]: What happens to the 7.5 million pounds of waste produced by air travelers each day.
 * [|US Offers Loan to Solar Energy Project]: The US Department of Energy offered a loan guarantee to BrightSource Energy, which is planning to build a large solar-power plant in a Southern California desert.
 * [|Failed Efforts to Maintain Biodiversity]: Looking at the disconnect between modern society and wider biosphere, which has implications for all aspects of life.

Be Informed


 * Websites With Information on Going Green**
 * [|Tree Hugger]: A leading media outlet dedicated to making sustainability mainstream.
 * [|The Green Guide] : National Geographic's program to make living in an environmentally-aware way personal, practical and positive.
 * [|MSNBC Going Green]: A website that gathers environmental news together into one place.
 * [|Time Magazine] : Time magazine's weekly column on the environment.
 * [|Going Green at School]: A list of ways to make your school and clasroom more green.


 * Websites for Kids About Going Green**
 * World Book Kids (via [|Baltimore County])
 * Brain Pop, Jr. section on Conservation (via [|Baltimore County])

Be Engaged


 * Curricular Connections**
 * Geography
 * 4th grade example: 3.D Indicator 1 "Describe how people adapt to, modify, and impact the natural environment"
 * Economics
 * 4th grade example: 4.A Indicator 2 "Explain how limited economic resources are used to produce goods and services to satisfy economic wants in Maryland"; Indicator 3 "Explain how technological changes have affected production and consumption in Maryland"


 * Tying "Going Green" Into the Classroom with the Curricular Connections:**
 * While learning about our place in the natural environment in geography, we can teach students the importance of the impact that they have on the environment around them. We can look at areas around the world where people either protect the environment or don't protect the environment, comparing the impact on the world around us. Once students have an understanding of our impact on the world, we can discuss ways to change our impact in our community, leading to a discussion on the projects listed below.
 * Economics also provides a good connection for going green. When discussing production and natural/human resources, we can discuss the limited resources available for production, and look at ways the recycling, reducing, and resuing can help us have more resources available for goods.


 * Ways to Bring Going Green into Your Classroom and Ways to Make A Difference**
 * Start a recycling program, or further implement one that is already in place. Think of all the lunch containers, paper, food scraps, etc, that can be recycled at your school!
 * If space permits, grow a city garden. This will not only encourage students to eat healthier, but also demonstrate the importance of eating locally.
 * Plan a field trip to a recycling plant or organic farm.
 * Encourage teachers to use their lights less often--natural sunlight usually works just as well, and saves energy!
 * Being a campaign to switch all bulbs in the school to more energy-efficient bulbs.
 * Tell parents to turn their cars off while waiting for students--idling cars create a lot of pollution.
 * Begin using recycled products (paper especially) if your classroom.
 * Teach students the three R's of recyling, reducing, and reusing.