The Floating Fork:
For this quick trick you will need a wide rim glass, a toothpick, a spoon, and a fork.
See how you can balance a fork and a spoon on just a toothpick rested on the rim of a glass!
Impress your friends with this amazing trick that demonstrates intriguing concepts of physics and gravity!
In this short experiment you will learn how to make carbon dioxide. Combining vinegar and baking soda produces carbon dioxide gas, which you can use to blow up a balloon!
You will also observe the impacts of carbon dioxide on our water supply.
Materials needed for this experiment are: vinegar, 1 plastic bottle about half way filled with water, baking soda, a straw, and a balloon.
Have you ever wondered why your things get hot when you leave them in the sun? It is because they are absorbing heat from the sun in the form of solar energy.
Solar energy is powerful enough to heat your food and even run your TV when it is converted into electricity
In this experiment, learn how to concentrate solar heat and make your own solar oven! You can cook without using electricity!
A water wheel is a machine for converting the energy of free flowing or falling water into useful forms of energy.
In this short video, you can learn how water wheels harness energy. You can also take part in a fun experiment to build your own water wheel!
Materials needed:
A large bowl, an egg carton, a stapler, two spools, a bottle of water, two paper plates (about 7 inches in diameter,scissors, a tooth pick, tape, and two rulers.
Have you ever wondered how a thermometer and works?
How does a thermometer tell temperature?
In this short video, you can learn a little about how thermometers work and even learn how to make your own thermometer!
Materials needed:
a bowl, a bottle of water, an empty bottle, rubbing alcohol, modeling clay, food coloring, a straw, and a funnel
1. The Education sectors offer great opportunity to combat climate change.
2. There is a clear education agenda in climate change, which teaches that changing behaviors can reduce the dangers and manage the hazards of climate change.
3. Climate Change: According to the United Nations International Panel on Climate Change, climate change is progressing and will have widespread effects on human life and natural systems.
4. Climate change has caused increased heat waves, flooding, droughts, tropical cyclones, rising sea levels, and damage to biodiversities.
5. Climate Change: In the long run climate change threatens the physical safety, psychological well-being, and education of communities.
6. In terms of education, enrollment in schools would decrease because children would be kept out of school in order to aid with family livelihood.
1. Plastic water bottles are not good for the earth and may contain chemicals. To combat this you can invest in a reusable water bottle.
2. Fill up your reusable water bottle at home using the tap. If you or your parents are not comfortable with drinking from the tap, think about installing a filter.
Check out the Brita website for a variety of filters.
3. Before you decide to buy something, think about how much packaging will have to be thrown away.
4. Buy things made of materials that have already been recycled. Talk to your family about buying products in bulk, which uses less packaging.
5. Reusing things is a great way to decrease the amount of trash you throw away. Keep a cloth towel by the sick if ever you need to clean up a spill.
6. Save plastic bags you get when shopping and use them again. Save old ratty clothing and use them as cleaning rags.
7. If you make your lunch from home, store it in reusable containers.
1. Recycling isn’t restricted to mercury or plastic.
2. It’s possible to recycle natural materials, which can be found in places like your kitchen and lawn.
3. You can minimize the amount of fertilizers, weed killers, and pesticides by using green alternatives.
4. When mowing your lawn, leave clippings on the lawn instead of disposing of them. They'll decompose and provide nitrogen for the soil; offering you the option to reduce, or eliminate the use of fertilizers.
5. Kitchen scraps, leaves, garden trimmings, and weeds can all be used for composting.
6. Reduce your use of fertilizers and pesticides by choosing to plant shrubs and flowers that are resistant to disease and pests.
7. Alternatives - Purchase fertilizers, pesticides, and weed controllers that are organic or made with less toxic ingredients.
1. Many household cleaning products contain dangerous chemicals that can be harmful to people if inhaled or come into contact with skin. Fortunately there are several solutions to this challenge.
2. Alternatives to Cleaning Products: refrain from combining cleaning products for they can create an even more toxic substance.
Substitute soap, water, and good ol’ elbow grease for chemicals. In many cases, a little extra scrubbing is all that is required to remove a stain or get rid of dirt.
3. Consider purchasing environmentally friendly cleaning products. Please note: always read the label before use because even products made from natural ingredients can be dangerous if used improperly.
4. Avoid using chemicals to unclog pipes and drains. The chemicals used to unclog drains are usually corrosive and can be harmful to the touch as well as damaging to your pipes. Instead use non-chemical drain cleaning techniques.
1. Batteries: Most batteries, with the exception of rechargeable and lithium batteries, pose minimal risk to the environment, if discarded in the regular trash.
This is due to new standard household alkaline batteries no longer containing mercury.
3. Toxicity: While rechargeable batteries are greener> However; many toxic metals, including cadmium, cobalt, and lead, are used to make them. These metals are harmful to the environment and people; therefore, it is essential to dispose of them properly.
Computers, monitors, and printers contain hazardous materials, such as lead, mercury, and cadmium.
2. EPEAT Products: When buying electronics, look for products rated as EPEAT(the global registry for greener electronics).
4. Disposing of Electronics: You can recycle unwanted electronics through drop-off or mail-back programs.
Manufacturers of electronics will usually use drop-off or mail- back programs to recycle their products.
5. Drop-off and Mail-back Programs: Drop-off programs can be found at your local electronic retail store. Mail-back recycling programs often allow you to ship products for free or for a minimal rebate.
6. Donate your Electronics: If your electronics are still useable but unwanted, you can donate them to a charitable organization. For more details download the slide share.
1. What & Where is Mercury? Mercury is a liquid metal that is sometimes used in thermometers, thermostats, and fluorescent light bulbs.
2. While mercury is used in common household items, interacting with it can be harmful to your health.
3. Mercury is hazardous if inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin. That is why it is a necessity to properly dispose of mercury- containing products. Improper disposal of products containing mercury can damage waterways and contaminate the air and environment.
4. To reduce the risk of exposure to mercury, exchange your mercury fever thermometers for digital fever thermometers.
Let’s try to save the planet!
1. Riding a bike can help us save water? A gallon of gasoline takes nearly 13 gallons of water to produce. Biking daily can save gallons of water!2. Riding a bike can help save energy? The United States accounts for 30% of the worlds automobiles and require 8.2 million barrels of oil a day to operate them. Thats 11% of the worlds daily oil consumption.
4. Riding a bike can help save the environment? If 5% of New Yorkers commuting by private car or taxi switched to biking to work, they could save 150 million pounds of CO2 emissions per year. That is equivalent to the amount reduced by planting a forest 1.3 times the size of Manhattan!
1. The average American discards 4.34 pounds of trash everyday. If all the waste was collected, put into average sized garbage trucks, and positioned in a straight line across the U.S., it would extend from New York to California, more than 100 times. Americans produce more and more waste every year.
2. What can we do with our trash? Of the 4.34 pounds of trash discarded everyday, about 1.5 pounds are recycled or composted.
3. What happens to the rest? It will either be burned or sent to underdeveloped countries (for a fee) to sit in a landfill.
4. Where can Waste to Energy be found?
5. EPA Awarded Grant One plant in particular, the East Bay Municipal Utility District, was awarded an EPA grant for research, due to their innovative methods in turning food waste into energy.6. CO2 Emissions According to the U.S. EPA MSW Decision Support Tool nearly one ton of CO2 equivalent emissions are avoided for every ton of MSW handled by a waste-to-energy plant. For More details, download our slide share.
Sustainable
Homes
Completely off-grid powered by the sun and an electric car with a design efficient structure that is capable of adapting to the environment and seasons.
All rights reserved ©2009-2012 MicroEmpowering.org is a 501(c)3 Public Charity
