So you want to save polar bears? Choose one of these themes for your project.
Saving Energy
Zero Waste
Close the Loop
Reforestation
The examples shown for each theme are suggestions only. We encourage you to create projects of your own invention that apply to any of the themes.
SAVING ENERGY
Reduce fossil fuel consumption on a medium to large scale within your community
This means at a level that involves more than your own home. Medium scale could be your school. Large scale could be your whole town! For example, you could:
- Install a solar or wind-power generator.
- Decrease CO2 emissions from transportation with No Idle Zones, reduced bus schedule.
- Conduct energy audits—and help people, schools, or businesses save energy and money.
- Start a policy for a community-wide ride your bike to work or school day.
The possibilities are as great as your imagination. Just be sure to figure out a way up front to measure the reduction in energy consumption.
ZERO WASTE
Bring about an innovative change to an existing policy, process, or product that results in a reduction of CO2 emissions or reduced use of resources.
This category is wide open. You could:
- Inspire a school-district-wide policy that encourages trash-free cafeterias by recycling or composting all waste.
- Figure out where recycling is not taking place in your community—and make it happen.
- Create a whole new meaning and understanding of what waste is.
Make sure you calculate a way to measure the changes you bring about!
CLOSE THE LOOP
Most of us recycle, but this only helps if people buy goods made from recycled materials. In this category, we're challenging you to close that loop.
This category is ideal for the shoppers and artists among you. You may wonder: what does this have to do with CO2? By re-using plastic, paper, glass and even clothing items, we reduce the demand for oil, wood, and other resources—and decrease our impact on polar bear habitat. Here are some suggestions:
- Get your friends together and start a group that makes usable, fun stuff from old stuff—and then sell it at school or yard sales.
- Do whatever it is teenagers do to make it cool to buy recycled stuff.
- Convince local stores to stock merchandise made from recycled materials.
- Create a project that encourages people to buy products made from recycled materials. Maybe you could make a list of products made from recycled materials—and then create a website for all of your friends and family to use as a resource.
We can't wait to see what you come up with. But be sure to measure your impact!
REFORESTATION
By increasing our natural carbon-grabbers—those nice green things called plants and trees—communities around the world can help decrease CO2 levels.
This category is for those groups with a green thumb. Possible projects include:
- Tree planting campaigns*
- Saving existing trees by removing invasive species
- Preventing deforestation in the Tropics.
As with the other categories, make sure you figure out a way to measure the carbon reductions.
*If you choose a tree-planting project, please check with your state agriculture department or local university forestry department so that you choose trees and plants that are native to, or appropriate for, your local habitat.
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