Climate Change, Energy & Water Quiz - Earth Month 2024 - week 1

Each week of Earth Month has a different featured quiz, divvying up all things green into bite-sized brain snacks. We begin with the biggie, Climate Change (cue eerie music), Energy & Water. Test your knowledge with this quick quiz, and a chance to win a $50 gift card (UHN Staff). Questions or comments? Say hi at green@uhn.ca

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* 1. What is the top cause of green house gas emissions that worsen climate change?

People extracting and burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, gas, and natural gas

the Kardashians

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* 2. Since 2010, how much has UHN saved through energy management programs (working behind the scenes to improve the efficiency of UHN buildings)?

saved 55,400 tonnes of CO2e (Green House Gas emissions), like taking 13,865 cars off the road

saved $43 million in utility costs

all of the above

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* 3. What health outcomes are worsened by climate change - and improved by climate action! (select all that apply)

Respiratory disease like COPD, lung cancer, asthma, allergies

Heat exhaustion and dehydration

Vector borne diseases like Malaria, Zika, Lyme

Baldness

Accidents due to extreme weather (fires, floods, heatwaves, ice storms, hurricanes)

Mental health

Water-borne disease

Malnutrition (crop impacts)

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* 4. What are good ways to take climate action? (select all that apply)

Join the UHN green team

Vote for leaders with a solid climate plan. Nudge leaders to make good climate policies

Talk to your friends and family about Climate Change

Argue with random people on the internet

Keep fossil fuels out of your investments and pension (See how your pension stacks up)

Conserve energy, and transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy

Other (please specify)

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* 5. What did our colleague Mike do to rid his house of fossil fuels? (select all that apply). Fun-fact: he saved money doing this too. Hints here and here

Heat Pump: installed to heat and cool instead of central air conditioning and a gas furnace

Thermostat: Programmed it cooler in winter, warmer in summer, especially at night and when unoccupied

Hamster-power: Set up 100 hamster wheels to generate energy (and a solid Instagram following)

Hot Water Tank: converted from gas to electric

Cooking Range: converted from gas to induction (even faster than basic electric)

Giant Sweater: Knit to fit snugly and stylishly over the whole house

Insulation: added to the attic, and sealed drafts too

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* 6. What kind of things can you turn off? (select all that apply)

Lights

Computers & monitors (if safe to do so)

Sock puppets

Appliances

Televisions

Printers

Anything with a plug and a switch

Other (please specify)

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* 7. What is the the most climate-friendly source of energy (hints here)

Coal

Oil

Gas

Electricity from renewables like Solar, Wind, Hydro

Natural Gas

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* 8. Why is Deep Lake Water Cooling (DLWC) so much better than regular air conditioning to cool Toronto General, Toronto Rehab UC, and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre? Hint here

DLWC reduces energy consumption by up to 90%!

DLWC save 182,000 m3 of water, or about 73 Olympic swimming pools per year

DLWC does not spread harmful bacteria like Legionella

DLWC makes tigertail ice cream while it cools

DLWC doesn't need to use nasty, climate worsening refrigerants like R-134a, which has a global warming potential 1,430 times C02!

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* 9. What are good ways to save water? (select all that apply)

Fix or report leaky taps

Turn off the tap when not actively using it, e.g. while brushing teeth, shampooing or soaping up

Plant more drought-tolerant plants, less water-hogging grass

Drink bubble tea instead of water

Install low-flow toilets

Get a rain barrel at home

Use a dishwasher when full

Use a dishwasher with only one spoon in it

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* 10. Where do you work?

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* 11. Please enter your UHN email below.

Email Address