2012 Poster Contest Examples
Theme: Energy Efficiency
- Unplug unused electronics & use power strips – when electronics are turned off but still plugged in, they continue to use energy.
- Turn off computers or turn to sleep mode when not in use - you can save energy, save money, and help the environment by activating power management features on your computer.
Theme: Waste Reduction, Reusing & Recycling
- Recycle at school and home to reduce waste, save energy & protect our natural resources.
- Compost – provides a way not only of reducing the amount of waste that needs to be disposed of, but also of converting it into a product that is useful for gardening and landscaping.
- Use reusable water bottles & lunch containers - instead of disposable water bottles; get refillable bottles. Breaking the habit reduces the use of fossil fuels and toxic greenhouse gases that result from manufacturing plastic bottles, most of which end up as landfill waste.
- Reuse and donate – clothes and toys that are donated or reused reduce your carbon footprint by reducing transportation costs & the pollution associated with it. It also saves natural resources used to generate the items.
Theme: Alternative Transportation
- Walk, Bike, carpool and ride the bus to save fossil fuels and reduce your carbon footprint. Walking or biking to school also provides much needed exercise.
Theme: Green Shopping
- Use recycled paper & print on both sides – benefits of using 100% postconsumer copy paper - One ton saves the equivalent of 24 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 4,100 kilowatt hours of electricity, and 60 pounds of air pollution.
- Purchase eco-friendly school supplies/products – including green cleaners and Energy Star® electronics.
- Stop idling – a great deal of idling takes place at schools, where buses and cars line up to drop off and pick up children, and the children end up breathing the exhaust. Stopping unnecessary vehicle idling improves air quality and the respiratory health in our communities.
Theme: Water Reduction
- Plant native drought-resistant trees & shrubs – it conserves water and protects the environment by reducing carbon dioxide and supplying oxygen. Also consider a butterfly garden at school.
- Conserve water – check all faucets, water fountains and toilets for leaks and running water. Taking shorter showers at home reduces water and your carbon footprint (water heater use).
- Spread the word!!! – Morning announcements and word-of-mouth are fundamental ways to spread the environmental message about these important issues.