Teachers, Honoured Guests and Fellow Classmates - It’s speech time! If you or your kids are having trouble coming up with a speech topic, Green Cricket is here to help with 8 suggestions on green topics that are not only interesting but also raise awareness about the environment.

1.       Clean but not very green - what is really in the soap we use? We all know that soap helps us get clean when we have a bath, shower or wash our hands, but what chemicals are in soap and are they safe for us? SLS and SLES are 2 to be concerned about.  Here are some links to get you started:

http://chemistry.about.com/od/cleanerchemistry/a/how-soap-cleans.htm http://www.kitchendoctor.com/essays/soap.php

http://www.natural-health-information-centre.com/sodium-lauryl-sulfate.html

 

2.       Hot air? What alternative energy sources really work? Whether you are talking about electric, hybrid or hydrogen power for vehicles or wind, solar and tidal energy for power generation, alternative energy is being used to lower our reliance on fossil fuels. Which of these sources is the most cost effective? Which produces the most power? Do these alternative sources have impacts on the environment?

http://www.planetfriendly.net/energy.html

http://netpilot.ca/aes/

http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/transportation/hybrid-cars/

 

3.       Common scents and health risks. You may have seen the signs- Scent Free Zone,  please refrain from wearing scented products due to allergy reasons. Why are scented products a problem? Is there a need for fragrance free products? Check out some of these links to find out more:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500165_162-57349626/can-scented-products-make-you-sick/?tag=facebook

http://www.chrc-ccdp.ca/pdf/legal_sensitivity_en.pdf

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/blogs/queen-of-green/2011/06/companies-wont-disclose-parfum-ingredients/

 

4.       The dirt on recycling-it’s not working. We all know that recycling is important to save our environment. Is the program doing what it’s supposed to?

http://www.scienceclarified.com/Qu-Ro/Recycling.html

http://www.itworldcanada.com/news/canadian-it-pros-face-recycling-challenge/135914

http://www.environmentalindicators.com/htdocs/execsum.htm

 

5.       Going green at home. What sorts of things can the everyday person do at home to be green? There are tonnes of quick and easy ideas as well as some bigger ones. Lowering the thermostat a degree or two in winter can save energy. Switching to energy efficient lightbulbs also conserves energy. Installing a living wall helps provide healthier air to breathe. Learning about the ingredients of products you buy and where they come from is another way to go green at home.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/interactives/cp-fluorescent-bulb/

http://www.greenovergrey.com/living-walls/overview.php

http://www.saskenergy.com/saving_energy/tips.asp

 

 

6.       Carbon footprints and food-the 100 mile diet. How does our food get to us? Transport trucks drive from Florida to bring us oranges, bananas are shipped by boats from overseas. This increases our carbon footprint which we would all like to reduce. The 100 mile diet is one way to reduce that Footprint. It’s another name for eating local.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/global-food/part-4-is-the-100-mile-diet-a-pipe-dream/article1813387/

http://www.ecolife.com/health-food/eating-local/100-mile-diet.html

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/reduce-your-carbon-footprint/

 

7.       Walk, drive or take the bus-costs and benefits. Places to go, people to see. How do we choose to get there? Distance, cost, time, convenience, impact on the environment? All of these are considerations when we need to get somewhere. What is the best choice?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_transport

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/programs/environment-commuteroptions-menu-519.htm

 

8.       Green Buildings. What defines a building as green?  What technology is out there to reduce energy use?  What are the benefits of a green roof or living wall? What is LEED? Windows, insulation, furnaces and water heaters-can these help? An overlooked part of Green buildings are the products used inside them-are they environmentally friendly and safe for the user?

http://www.cagbc.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&Template=/Templates/EnglishHome.cfm

http://www.greenovergrey.com/living-walls/overview.php

 http://vancouver.ca/sustainability/building_green.htm