Urban Environment - Carbon Footprint Calculation

Eryn Klosko
,
SUNY/Westchester Community College
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Summary

Students compile information on energy usage and compute their "Carbon Footprint" using a calculator on the internet. This particular calculator is easy to use and includes options for public transportation.

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Context

Audience

Any introductory geoscience course could use this activity Designed for a geophysics course

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

no skills necessary

How the activity is situated in the course

this is a stand alone exercise

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

evaluation of lifestyle - connections with sustainability themes

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

simple changes students can make that can alter their overall greenhouse gas emissions

Other skills goals for this activity

Description of the activity/assignment

Students gather information regarding their household's usage of energy, in addition to how much energy they consume for transportation. By going to a "Carbon Footprint" calculator on the internet, they can compute their total carbon score. Students can then see what lifestyle changes they can make to lower their scores. Uses online and/or real-time data

Determining whether students have met the goals

To goal is to see that students have made connections between their everyday activities and their impact to the environment

More information about assessment tools and techniques.

Teaching materials and tips

Other Materials

Supporting references/URLs