GoalName the four fields of green technology and give one example for each.
New words
renewable energy · energy from sources that do not run out as we use them, such as sun and windrecycling · turning used paper, plastic or metal into new productscompost · a rich food for soil, made from plant wastewater treatment · cleaning dirty water so it can be used again, and using water carefully
Explanation
Green technology works in four big fields. The first is renewable energy. The sun, the wind, moving water, heat from inside the Earth and plant matter can all give us power again and again. Solar panels turn sunlight into electricity, and wind turbines turn moving air into electricity. The second field is saving energy. Green buildings use materials that are kind to nature and are designed for good air flow and insulation, so they stay comfortable with less power. Efficient devices and smart transport belong here too. The third field is waste. We recycle paper, plastic and metal, turn plant waste into compost, and reuse or repair things instead of throwing them away. The fourth field is water. Dirty water can be cleaned, drip irrigation brings small drops straight to the roots of plants, and fixing leaking pipes stops water from being wasted.
Field
What it does
Example
Renewable energy
makes power from sources that do not run out
solar panel
Saving energy
uses less power for the same job
green building
Waste
gives used things a new life
recycling paper
Water
cleans water and stops waste
drip irrigation
Worked examples
A farmer in a dry place lays a thin pipe with small holes along a row of plants. Each plant gets drops at its roots, so no water is poured on the empty ground between plants. This is drip irrigation.
used paper→special box→new paper
Mina’s class puts used paper in a special box. The box is taken away, the paper is made into pulp, and new paper is made from it. The paper has a second life.
A small village puts solar panels on a roof. In the day the panels turn sunlight into electricity and charge a battery. In the evening the battery lights the lamps. The sun does not run out when it is used, so this energy is renewable.
Class activity
Make a four-box poster. Give each box the name of one field. In each box draw one thing from your home, street or school that belongs to that field. If you cannot find one, draw an idea you would like to see. Tell a family member which box was the hardest.
Practice
1
A compost heap turns plant waste into food for soil. Which field is it?
Waste.
2
Name three sources of renewable energy.
For example: sun, wind, moving water (also heat from the Earth, plant matter).
3
Which picture belongs to renewable energy? Say the letter.
B, the sun.
4
Why does fixing a leaking pipe belong to green technology?
