R’s of sustainability
This "R" means using less or buying less.
Reduce
This natural process occurs when certain gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat
Greenhouse effect
The most common type of energy "waste" (why the car engine or laptop get hot while running)
Heat Energy
Bins found in the PMU and dining halls help students sort their waste into three streams: Trash, Recycling, and
Compost
Putting a greasy pizza box in the recycling bin is helpful (T/F)
False
Before throwing a glass jar away, you might do this "R" by turning it into a pencil holder
Reuse
A gas, primarily released by burning fossil fuels and agriculture
Carbon Dioxide
This type of energy is harnessed from the sun using photovoltaic cells
Solar Power
Group of student organization at Purdue focused on sustainability
BGO (Boiler Green Organization)
Many "paper" coffee cups aren't actually recyclable because they are lined with a thin layer of this material to keep them from leaking
Plastic or Wax
Paper, plastic, and carboard goes in this bin
Recycle
This gas is 25X more potent at trapping heat and is released by livestock and landfills
Methane
What unit is used to express an object's potential and kinetic energy?
Joules (J)
Building on campus features a "green roof" to help manage stormwater and reduce heat
WALC
The tiny pieces of plastic (less than 5mm long) that have been found everywhere from the deepest ocean to the human bloodstream
Microplastics
Unlike coal or gas, these energy sources naturally replenish themselves
Renewable
What melting is the primary contributor to rising global sea levels
Glaciers
The energy consumed by appliances like your TV or toaster even when they are turned off.
Standby Power
This campus facility processes food waste from dining courts to create energy and fertilizer.
Anaerobic Digester (wade utility plant)
This "fast" industry is the second-largest consumer of the world's water supply and is known for producing cheap, disposable clothing
Fast Fashion
Instead of buying a new laptop when one key breaks, this "R" encourages fixing what you already own
Repair
Corals expel the algae living in their tissues when temperatures rise, turning them white in a process called
Coral Bleaching
Most modern smartphones and electric vehicles (EVs) rely on this specific type of rechargeable battery
Lithium-ion
Purdue aims to achieve "Carbon Neutrality" by this specific year
2050
This common material—found in soda cans and foil—can be recycled an infinite number of times without losing its quality.
Aluminum