Pollution Prevention Quiz
How Pollution Prevention-Savvy Are You?
Take the Pollution Prevention Quiz to assess what you do and how much you know about energy, transportation, water, solid waste, cleaning, yard and lawn care, and painting. There's information behind every answer, so try as many times as you want and learn more each time.
Scoring
You earn the following points for each answer. You'll see how you did overall at the end. Only the first try counts, but we'll keep track of the points you earn for all your tries, just for fun.
1 point - Great Answer!
½ point - not bad...
0 points - time to read up on your world
-1 point- an answer only a wastrel could love!
We hope this quiz is informative and entertaining. Watch for the trick questions!
1. Do you turn your computer off when you're done working on it?
When you're in the market for a computer or other office equipment, get a model with an EnergyStar label. The average home office spends $135 per year on energy. An EnergyStar computer, monitor and fax machine could cut that bill by 45 percent. Check it out at http://www.epa.gov/appdstar/esoe/products.html.
Source: EPA-Energy Star Office Equipment
2. How many compact fluorescent light bulbs do you have in your house?
Compact fluorescent light bulbs can last 10+ times longer than conventional incandescent bulbs, and use only about one-fourth the energy consumed by incandescents with equivalent light output. They produce warm, natural light and turn on without flickering. Use compact fluorescents in places where the lights are on three or more hours per day to obtain maximum savings.
Sources: Seattle City Light, LightWise Program
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network
3. What kind of refrigerator is the least energy-efficient?
There's not much we can do about your teenagers. But you could get yourself an EnergyStar refrigerator, the most efficient of which are a third more efficient than models produced as recently as 1990. Search for one at http://www.energystar.gov/products/index.html.
Sources: Rocky Mountain Institute
Appliance Buyers Guide
4. Do you use rechargeable batteries for portable electronic devices?
Source: Rocky Mountain Institute
5. How often do you use public transportation during the work week?
Source: Transportation Choices
6. Do you use your car to travel to places within walking distance?
Source: Worldwatch Institute
7. Do you leave the water running while brushing your teeth?
Letting the water run while brushing your teeth can waste up to 10 gallons of water per brushing. Why pour money down the drain?
Source: Clark Public Utilities, Vancouver, Wash.
8. What's the most efficient way to wash clothes?
Heating water accounts for 80 to 85 percent of a washing machine's energy consumption. With a gas water heater set at 120 degrees, the energy cost of a hot wash, hot rinse cycle is five times the energy cost of a cold wash, cold rinse cycle. The most common type of washer used in the U.S. is the top loader, and a conventional large model will use 30 to 40 gallons of water for the wash and rinse cycles. In contrast, front loaders and water-efficient top loaders will use 30 to 40 percent less energy and 50 percent less water than conventional top loaders.
Sources: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network
EPA-EnergyStar Clothes Washers
'Consumers Guide to Home Energy Savings,' by Alex Wilson and John Morrill
9. How much water do you put on your lawn during the summer?
Source: Seattle Public Utilities Natural Lawn Care
10. What's an easy way to check your toilet for leaks?
Sources: Minnesota Environment and Energy Resource Center
Toiletology 101
11. What items does your company recycle?
Source: EPA Municipal Solid Waste Factbook, http://www.epa.gov/reg5oopa/students/municipal_solid_waste_factbook.htm
12. Which is a better environmental choice for carrying groceries, paper or plastic?
Sources:Paper or Plastic: It's Really a Trick Question
Environmental Defense Fund
13. What kind of cup do you use for your morning coffee at work?
Sources: Manitoba Product Stewardship Corporation
"50 Simple Things Your Business Can Do to Save the Earth" by Earth Works Group
Center for Marine Conservation
14. Do you use baking soda for household cleaning?
Sources: King County Local Hazardous Waste Management Program
Pennsylvania Resources Council
15. Do you use any of the following practices to maintain your yard responsibly?
Sources: King County Local Hazardous Waste Management Program
Seattle Public Utilities Natural Lawn Care
16. Do you measure wall surfaces to make sure you buy the right amount of paint?
Source: King County Local Hazardous Waste Management Program
13-16 points Great work! You're the Dean of Green!
8-12 points You're doing OK, but try to pick up the pace.
4-7 points You're looking at a big PR problem...
0-3 points Put yourself on the Superfund list for immediate remediation.