Climate Change
Short-term atmospheric conditions (such as wind, rain, heat) that are changing constantly
What is weather?
Energy from a natural source that is replaced quicker than it is used
What is renewable energy?
Using less energy to accomplish the same task
What is energy efficiency?
A small-scale localized power system that operates independently from the main grid
What is a microgrid?
Strategies that adjust to the impacts of climate change
What is adaptation?
Long-term average weather patterns in a specific area
A type of renewable energy source that comes from heat deep inside the Earth
What is geothermal energy?
Energy efficiency or energy conservation:
Turning off the lights and unplugging devices
What is energy conservation?
True or false:
Macrogrids are more reliable during power outages
False
MICROgrids are more resilient and reliable during power outages because they operate independently from the a traditional power grid (macrogrid)
Strategies that minimize climate change by addressing root causes
What is mitigation?
The idea that everyone has the right to a safe and healthy environment, which addresses how marginalized communities can be impacted more by climate change and environmental hazards
What is environmental justice?
Non-renewable energy source that is a liquid used to make gasoline and fuel
Oil
An assessment to determine how much energy a building uses, and opportunities for energy consumption to be reduced to increase energy efficiency
What is an energy audit?
In what area(s) are using microgrids especially helpful? Name at least one.
Remote, rural, off-the-grid, and marginalized communities
Are actions to reduce our carbon footprint mitigation or adaptation?
Mitigation
(Actions to reduce carbon footprint decreases the amount of greenhouse gases created, which addresses the causes of climate change)
Two of the most prominent greenhouse gases caused by burning fossil fuels and can also come from livestock like cows
What are carbon dioxide and methane?
True or False:
Fossil fuels were created from the heat and pressure of ancient plants and animals that lived millions of years ago being buried and compressed under many layers of sand, mud, and rock
True
A Massachusetts program that gives families free home inspections to help make their homes more efficient.
What is Mass Save?
Name a neighborhood in Boston with a microgrid that Climable is involved in
Possible answers:
Chelsea or Chinatown
Name 2 mitigation strategies
Example answers:
- Using renewable energy (solar, wind, hydropower, etc.)
- Increasing energy efficiency
- Reforestation
- Eating less meat
- Using eco-friendly products/using less plastic
Name 3 impacts caused by climate change
Example answers:
- Increased global temperatures
- Increased ocean temperatures
- Sea ice/snow melt
- Sea level rise
- Intense storms
- Heatwaves
- Air pollution from burning fossil fuels
True or False:
The greenhouse gas effect is a natural process
True
(The greenhouse gas effect helps to keep the Earth at a temperature the supports life, but burning fossil fuels makes the process worse by trapping too much heat)
Name 3 benefits of energy efficiency
Example answers:
- It saves energy and reduces wasted electricity
- Helps the climate by using less fossil fuels
- Saves money on electricity and heating bills
- Cleaner air from less pollution from burning fossil fuels
- Creates more jobs in energy-saving careers
Organize the process of energy flow from a traditional power grid in the correct order:
( ) Distribution
( ) Transmission
( ) Generation
( ) Homes/Businesses
(1) Generation
(2) Transmission
(3) Distribution
(4) Homes/Businesses
Name 2 adaptation strategies
- Creating microgrids
- Flood protection/barriers
- Emergency planning/disaster preparedness
- Water conservation
- Planting heat-tolerant plants/crops
- Activism
- Building green infrastructure/buildings