Essential Question
"How are we all going to live well within the means of nature?"
(Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES Education for Sustainability)
Photo by: Ryan Somma
Passwords to Library Databases / eBooks
If something here asks you for a library password, look it up on this Google Spreadsheet!
LOG INTO BobCatalog/Destiny Discover, to read ebooks!! username=LastnameFirstInitial27 (or 28 or 29) password=your personal password. (Or go through ClassLink and click on "Destiny TLI" app).
TO LOG INTO Sora eBooks, use your school Google account. Click here for step-by-step instructions on Sora.
Magazine Articles from HCC Databases
Read related articles magazines found through HCC's databases.
*Use the passwords list for access from home*
- "Natural swimming pools: a safe and healthy alternative." Natural Life, 2012.Discusses alternatives to use of chlorine and the negative environmental effects of chlorine in pools.
Sustainable Pools Project: Research Help
Welcome HCC student architects!
To design an eco-friendly aquatic center, you must
understand the factors in sustainable building.
Use Web sites and books on this page for your
Environmental Feasibility Plan.
Photo by Joël Plisson
If search on your own, either in databases or on the Internet, try these key words:
sustainable design OR sustainable development
green design OR green construction OR green building
swimming pools AND environmental aspects
Here's a collage of some other sustainable ideas/words:
If you have any questions, please ask HCC's school librarian, Mrs. Barthelmes.
Environmental Feasibility Plan
Here is a link to the Environmental Feasibility Plan in Google Docs.
You will need to "Make a Copy" of the document, and then "Rename" it (your name in the filename would be good).
After copying the document, it will be saved in "My drive" you can move it to another Google Drive folder if you like.
Sustainable Ideas on the Internet
- Sustainable BuildingFrom the National Institute of Building Sciences, an overview of the concepts behind sustainable building.
- Top 10 Green Advances in Residential BuildingFrom HowStuffWorks, a description 10 "green" building concepts that are gaining popularity. (Click on arrow at bottom of page to see all 10.)
- "Sustainable Building Practices and Materials" from the National Resources Defense Council.View this pamphlet highlighting furniture and construction materials that are sustainable.
- "Energy Savers" from the US Dept. of EnergyLearn ways to design a building or plan landscaping that will save energy.
--Under "Designing & Remodeling," see "Passive Solar."
--Under "Landscaping," see "Shading." - "Pool Covers" from US Dept. of EnergyInformation about different types of pool covers that save energy for swimming pools.
- "Installing and Operating an Efficient Swimming Pool Pump" from US Dept. of EnergyTips on reducing energy used by pool filters.
- "Energy Smart Management: Solar Pool Heating Systems" from US Dept. of EnergyRead this pamphlet about how to the energy efficiency of using solar panels to heat an outdoor pool.
- Diagram of a Solar Pool System from the U.S. Dept. of EnergyView a diagram and read information about a solar hot water system used for pool heating.
- "Energy Smart Management: Outdoor Pools" from US Dept. of EnergyLearn about the use of pool covers and other ways to reduce energy use of outdoor pools.
- 'Greenest' Museum to Open in San FranciscoNPR article/Web site about the California Academy of Science, a recent example of green construction.
- "A Guide to Aquatic Buffers" from Westchester County Gov'tLearn about landscaping projects around Westchester County that conserve water, filter pollution before entering ground water, and provide wildlife habitat.
- Water Pollution Posters from Westchester County Gov'tView this provocative poster about use of lawn fertilizers, to raise awareness of the ways pollution enters the water system.
- Geothermal Heating and CoolingClick on "Geothermal Slide Show" for a picture-packed presentation on all types of geothermal energy use.
- "Educational Programs" from Yorktown's Hilltop Hanover FarmGet information about the importance of sustainable farming from a nearby Westchester County Parks Farm.
- "School Garden Start-Up Guide" from University of California at DavisExplains the value of starting a garden at school or in the community and tips on how to do it.
- "Sustainable vs. Industrial" Agrigulture from Sustainable Table.Brochure with information that supports the use of local and sustainable agriculture.
- What is Slow Food?Learn about one group involved in food sustainability and promotion of local food consumption.
- How Wind Energy Works (Green Mountain Energy)This is a kid-friendly description of how wind can be used to power your home, from the company that powers mine!
- Solar Property LocatorUse the "Solar Property Locator" to see if your building is suitable for solar panels.
- Solar Water Heaters from Energy.govShows two options for heating water with solar power.
Sustainability Presentation
Here is the presentation I showed in the auditorium. It is a Google Slides presentation.
Search within these links
Use Your Own Words
Remember! Plagiarism=using another person's words without giving them credit.
Brief quotations are OK, but use quotation marks, "like this."
Cite all your sources, even if you paraphrase (put ideas into your own words).
E-Books: Read them entirely online!
- Alternative Energy (eBook) byISBN: 9780787694425Great sections on "Green Building Materials," "Geothermal Heat Pumps," "Wind Turbines," and "Solar Water Heating Systems."
*For home access, use the password for Gale.* DIRECTIONS:Use the e-Index or the e-Table of Contents to browse for topics, or you can search the book using the search box on the upper left side of the screen. 
Build It Green by ISBN: 9781615903207Publication Date: 2010-08-01*Read this whole e-book online through the BobCatalog!* An illustrated introduction to sustainable architecture that examines the building materials and techniques used to create environmentally-friendly homes and structures, and describes how eco-homes save energy.
Making Good Choices about Recycling and Reuse by ISBN: 9781435856066Publication Date: 2009-08-15Helps students understand the importance of recycling, explains how materials are recycled, and encourages them to start a recycling program in their schools.
Making Good Choices about Conservation by ISBN: 9781435856103Publication Date: 2009-08-15Understand the importance of conservation and the measures they can take to protect the world's water supply, forests, soil, oceans, and air quality.
Making Good Choices about Nonrenewable Resources by ISBN: 9781435853119Publication Date: 2009-08-15Introduces readers to a variety of products made from nonrenewable resources and their effects on the local ecology.
How We Know What We Know about Our Changing Climate by ISBN: 1584691034Publication Date: 2008-03-01See pages 54-55 "Taking Charge of our Carbon Footprint"
Restoring Wetlands by ISBN: 9781606944097Publication Date: 2009-08-01Discusses the importance of providing wetlands and animal habitats and the ways the plants of wetlands filter impurities from water.
Amazing Feats of Electrical Engineering by ISBN: 1624034284Publication Date: 2014-08-01See Chapter 5 for how solar panels work!
