Wisconsin Climate Change
Roles

Each day we make choices. Most days we make at least 10 choices before we eat breakfast. Those choices have an effect on our environment, positive or negative. We each have the responsibility to look at the choices we make and decide if they are the right ones for us and whether there is room improvement.

Instructions

Complete this worksheet by answering all of the questions and awarding yourself points. "Yes" answers receive all of the points listed, "sometimes/maybe" answers receive half of the points, and “no” answers receive zero points.

Home Total: 0	Transportation Total: 0
Do you turn off the TV and computer when you are done with them (4) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No	Do you carpool, take the bus, walk, or bike to school or work? (6) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No
Do you turn lights off when leaving a room? (4) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No	Do you trip-chain? (e.g. combine trips by going to the store on your way home from school instead of going home and then back to the store and then home again.) (10) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No
Do you reheat leftovers in the microwave instead of the oven? (8) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No	Do you turn your ignition off when you are parked or stopped for more than thirty seconds? 10) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No
Do you choose to open the windows on a nice day instead of turning on the air conditioner? (10) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No	If you are going to a friend's house or other place just a mile or two away, do you leave the car at home and bike or walk there? (10) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No
Check out some ways to save energy around the house. Do a Little... Save a Lot! Save Energy [VIDEO Length 32]	Do you reduce driving on Air Quality Advisory days? (12) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No
Recycling Total: 0	Energy Total: 0
Do you recycle all paper, glass, and plastic at home? (20) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No	Do you have compact fluorescent light bulbs installed in your home? Yes, almost all lights Some No
Do you recycle when at school or work? (10) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No	Do you use rechargeable batteries and/or recycle your batteries after use? (6) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No
If there is no recycling bin available when you are away from home, do you hold onto your trash until there is a bin available (i.e. bring your soda bottles and paper home to recycle)? (20) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No	Do you unplug your cell phone and I-pod after they are done charging to reduce "phantom energy" loss? (4) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No
Do you use both sides of a piece of paper before tossing it into the recycling bin? (4) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No	Do you turn the thermostat down in the winter and wear a sweater, and up in the summer and wear shorts? (6) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No
Check out Climate Change: A Wisconsin Activity Guide [PDF, 6.6MB]. Touching on both the scientific aspects and social issues of climate change and designed for teachers, the guide's activities help students develop the knowledge and skills needed to become informed and active participants in society's climate change discussions.	Do you carry reusable bags into the grocery store with you instead of taking new paper or plastic bags? (10) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No
	Do you use refillable water bottles instead of one-time use plastic bottles? (4) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No
	Do you check out books from the library instead of purchasing new ones? (4) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No
Water and Food Total: 0	Reduce & Reuse Total: 0
Do you turn the water off while brushing your teeth? (6) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No	Do you say “no thank you” to bags for items you buy at a store where you purchase only one or two things and can carry them without a bag? (16) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No
Are your showers less than 5 minutes? (10) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No	Additional Steps List up to four other environment-friendly steps you take (points indicated for each measure).
Do you wait to wash your favorite pair of jeans or other items until there is a full load of wash to be done? (4) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No	Additional Step 1 (4)
When able, do you choose organic foods? (20) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No	Additional Step 2 (6)
Do you use a reusable lunch bag and containers to carry food with you instead of disposable? (12) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No	Additional Step 3 (8)
When possible, do you buy locally-grown food instead of food shipped from elsewhere? (20) Yes Sometimes/Maybe No	Additional Step 4 (10)
Total

The Wisconsin DNR has teamed up with Polar Bears International, a non-profit organization, for a 10-year project to encourage Wisconsinites to plant and care for trees on their land and in their communities.

Get Involved - Plant Trees!