Meeting!

Attention GO GREEN MEMBERS!

Meeting info.

Date: 11/2/10
Time: Right after school till 2.30 pm
Venue: Vestibule

Please pass the message to your friends as well.

*If you're interested in being a part, do come for our meeting and inform the President Joey Young (5 Sc 1) or Vice President Carmen Loh (5 Sc 1)

Haiti Earthquake

On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti and devastated the capital city Port-au-Prince. More than 150,000 people were killed and buried later in mass graves, although the exact number was difficult to determine and the reported number fluctuates, and a large number are homeless. The Presidential palace, Parliament and many other important structures were destroyed, along with countless homes and businesses.

The links below will lead to more about this disaster.

Images of Disaster: Haiti's Worst Day
Islamic Relief Malaysia
RM 353 Million Needed To Help Haiti Earthquake Victims

For more update about Haiti Earthquake and the victims visit sites below

HERE
UNICEF
Facebook
Haiti Earthquake Relief

Even celebrities are helping and supporting the Haiti Earthquake Victims

• Rihanna on Oprah Winfrey's Talk Show
  

To donate please do so at World Vision Malaysia.

Its Christmas!!

"Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun"

"Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
had a very shiny nose
and if you ever saw it
you would even say it glows"

Its Christmas time again! Aren't you all excited? Shopping, Decorating the Christmas Tree, Christmas Dinner, FOOOD! and obviously GOING GREEN!

Here, this post is specially for a project for everyone. In fact everyone in this planet Earth. Malaysia is a country without four-season. We are forever SUMMER! But even we can build our snowman in this hot and humid country. All you need is just a pillow. YES! I wasn't kidding. Its a pillow. The one we sleep on. So here we go.

All you need is just

• One white bed pillow
• Stocking cap, beanies or even a funky cap. (As you wish, as long as its going to be the snowman's headgear)
  
• Scarf or even towels.
  
• Buttons or sequins (For the eyes and so forth)
  
• Orange fabric or anything which you can sew on or stick on as the nose.
  
• A pair of gloves.
  
• A small cute broom. (This is optional)

Steps

1. Stitch or glue the headgear to the top of a white bed pillow. Adjust it by pulling the corners of the pillow under the headgear.
2. Tie a scarf around the pillow about 1/3 way down. Sew or glue on button or sequins as the eyes and mouth.
3. Cut a circle of orange fabric, slit half way and shape into a cone for a carrot nose (or just cut it into a triangle shape); glue or sew edge of nose to face.
4. Sew buttons down the front. Sew or glue gloves to the front for the arms.
5. If you're feeling funky, pair it with a small broom. This is optional.

SO NOW WE CAN HAVE OUR IMAGINARY SNOWMAN IN MALAYSIA! :)

Do try it out and take a picture. Post it on Facebook or anywhere. Put in the link on the chatbox by the side and share it with all our blog readers! :D Enjoy. Happy Holiday.

Reusing Guitar Strings

Announcement to all guitar rockers!

You can help save the environment NOW! Just a snap of fingers people! Reuse those guitar strings. Well, when you change your guitar strings think again. Do you really need to throw them away? Why not reuse them and benefit them as it is? Here are a few tips to reusing those unwanted guitar strings.

1. Hanging picture

• Use the guitar string as wire to hang pictures on wall.
  

2. Cut the Cheese

• The finest guitar string, the one that plays the highest note, can be used to cut fine slices of cheese.

3. Jewelry

• Some rock stars are having their old guitar strings turned into bracelets or necklaces. The guitar-string jewelry can sold and the profits could be donated to those who need them. That's a great deed you rock stars can do.

4. Arts and Crafts

• You can make flowers as decorations.
  

What are you doing now!!?? Go and get some used guitar strings. Share this with a few friends and rock those tips together! :)

Save the Earth with 10 easy steps.

How can we live lightly on the Earth and save money at the same time?

Climate change is in the news. It seems like everyone's "going green." We're glad you want to take action, too. Luckily, many of the steps we can take to stop climate change can make our lives better. Our grandchildren-and their children-will thank us for living more sustainably. Let's start now.

Keep reading for 10 simple things you can do today to help reduce your environmental impact, save money, and live a happier, healthier life.

1. Save energy to save money.

   
   State of the World 2009:
   Into a Warming World
   • Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.
   • Unplug appliances when you're not using them. Or, use a "smart" power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts "phantom" or "vampire" energy use.
   • Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.
   • Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying.

2. Save water to save money.

   • Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.
   • Install a low-flow showerhead. They don't cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.
   • Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.

3. Less gas = more money (and better health!).

   
   World Watch Magazine
   • Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
   • Consider telecommuting if you live far from your work. Or move closer. Even if this means paying more rent, it could save you money in the long term.
   • Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.

4. Eat smart.

   • If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.
   • Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.
   • Watch videos about why local food and sustainable seafood are so great.

5. Skip the bottled water.

   • Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.
   • Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.
   • Check out this short article for the latest on bottled water trends.

6. Think before you buy.

   
   Low Carbon Energy Report
   • Go online to find new or gently used secondhand products.
   • Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.
   • When making purchases, make sure you know what's "Good Stuff" and what isn't.
   • Watch a video about what happens when you buy things. Your purchases have a real impact, for better or worse.

7. Borrow instead of buying.

   • Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.
   • Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.

8. Buy smart.

   
   Climate Change Reference
   Guide
   • Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.
   • Wear clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.
   • Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you don't have to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).

9. Keep electronics out of the trash.

   • Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible.
   • Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem.
   • Recycle your cell phone.
   • Ask your local government to set up an electronics recycling and hazardous waste collection event.

10. Make your own cleaning supplies.

    

    Join the Million Car Carbon Campaign by purchasing yourEarth-Aid kit today.

    • The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.
    • Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.

How to Go Green : Electricity

The cost of electricity is going up (both in MYR and in environmental and health impacts) and it doesn't show any signs of doing otherwise. About half of the energy in the American grid is coal generated. We won't bore you with what you already know: coal is a really stinky, dangerous, nasty, unsustainable, and silly way to make power. By using less energy, and greening the electricity that we do use, we can lighten our footprint immensely. The subject of electricity and its environmental impacts is a massive one and we can't cover every corner of it here; hopefully, this brief guide can offer some solid suggestions for greening your electricity and use thereof.

1. Audit yourself
   A home energy audit is a way to inventory your home's energy use, where energy is lost, and where it can be saved. You can do an energy audit yourself or get a pro. Many utilities also offer home and business energy audits for free.
   
   
2. Reduce your use
   The lowest hanging fruit just begging to be picked are simple energy-saving practices. They're also the most cost effective. Top tasks include:
   
   • Replace your light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) or even cutting-edge light emitting diodes (LEDs).
     
   • Turn off lights and other devises when they're not needed. Check out the How to Go Green: Lighting guide for more lighting tips.
     
   • Eliminating electronics that sleep on a standby setting; they continue to pull a current even when "turned off."
     
   • "Wall warts," those clunky AC adaptors on many power cables, pull current, too, so those should be taken out of the wall when not in use -- this is also known as phantom power. Your best bet is a "smart" power strip, or a power strip that can be turned off at night.
     
   • Clothes driers gobble up a lot of power, so line drying can be a great energy saver.
     
     
3. Put your house on a diet
   Homes consume an enormous amount of energy, especially in heating and cooling, and American homes consume around six times the world average. Once you've audited your home for energy use (even if you haven't) some simple moves can cut your electricity bill. Keep your house cool with natural ventilation instead of air conditioning as much as possible. Use in-room, ceiling, or whole-house fans to move air throughout the house. Blocking sunlight during hot hours of the day can help lower your cooling load. If your house uses electricity for water heating, wrapping your water tank in an insulating blanket can save on power. Also, if your house is heated with electricity, see How to Go Green: Heating for more in-depth advice.
   
   
4. Buy wise
   After cooling and heating, appliances and other plug-in devises are the next biggest users of energy in your abode. When looking for new appliances, seek out the most energy-efficient models. Most new appliances come with a yellow EnergyGuide label which, like mileage ratings on cars, shows its consumption in terms of kWh per year. Also look for Energy Star rated products (more on Energy Star below). Electronics like computers and audio equipment can be big power suckers, too. See below for more on greening your computer usage. Being smart with lighting is another key way to green your power usage. See How to Go Green: Lighting for more.
   
   
5. Homemade juice
   You think making your own bread at home feels good? There's nothing quite like the feeling of making your own electricity from the sun, wind, or water. Installing an home alternative energy system is becoming more and more cost effective as technology improves and assistance programs spread. Photovoltaic, or solar electric, systems are the most common. Depending on your available space, local climate, budget, and local utility, a solar electric system can provide all the energy needed for a typical home (and possibly more). Check with your local power utility about subsidy programs or other available programs.
   
   Small, home-sized, wind turbines are a rapidly growing field. Time Magazine called the Skystream 3.7 one of the best new inventions of 2006. These can be pricey little whirleygigs, but depending on your local wind conditions, it can take a big chunk out of your energy use and replace the dirty with clean. There's also a thriving DIY wind movement.
   
   
6. If you build it…you will save
   A home or building designed and constructed around energy efficiency can realize enormous savings. Everything from the positioning of the house, use of daylight and natural ventilation, lighting and appliances, and renewable energy system can push a building closer and closer to net zero energy consumption. If you are considering building a home, do serious renovations, or an addition, make sure that energy efficiency is a key design criterion. The Energy Star rating system has a home certification program, and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) now has a rating system for residential homes. One of many great books to consult is Your Green Home, by Alex Wilson.
   
   
7. Think lifecycle
   We all use energy. It's just a fact. Even an off-the-grid house is filled with embodied energy. Everything from the power it took to manufacture the solar panels (which was a lot), to the fuel burned in transporting the micro wind turbine from the factory, embodied energy, or lifecycle energy, is in everything we buy and use. Manufacturing, advertising, packaging, shipping, etc. are all part of a product's energy history. We should all learn to think of things this way. Solar panels, for example, have a great deal of energy embodied in them, much more than, say, a passive solar water heating system.

Credits to Planet Green.

Essay

How to make your school greener.

The most interesting and possible way wins the prize.

Its open to all students of SMK Assunta.

Hand in the essays to the head prefect on the 1st day of school after the August holidays.

Aim of this competition:

• To introduce te students to have the initiative to find a solution to save the Earth.
• To improve the student' writing skills.