Teaching Students About Carbon Emissions

Plus an Easy, Practical Way to Offset Impact

Looking for a way to help students understand "carbon footprints" and how to reduce environmental impact? Two Web sites that have partnered with NBC Universal's new movie, Evan Almighty, can help.

The Rabbits Have It

The Eco-Bunnies explain it all for you at www.eco-bunnies.com/. Presented by Travelocity, the site uses amusing animations to explain, in simple language, the concept of carbon footprints and how to make decisions about energy consumption that reduce carbon emissions—the number one cause of global warming.

Teachers will find downloadable lesson plans for grades K–8 that include fact sheets (as well as "fiction busters"), home energy surveys, achievement certificates, and more. Readers are also encouraged to participte in The Conservation Fund's "Go Zero" program (see below.)

For more information, visit www.eco-bunnies.com/.

Be a Hero, Go Zero!

At The Conservation Fund's "virtual forest," individuals can make small contributions that "zero out" their carbon dioxide emissions by sponsoring the planting of trees—at only $5 per tree—that absorb and reduce carbon emissions in the atmosphere. It's easy to participate. For every tree that you plant in the virtual "Almighty Forest," a real tree is planted by The Conservation Fund in protected areas across the nation.

Trees are vital to our environment. In fact, planting just 15 trees offsets the average American's annual carbon dioxide emissions! And that's not all. Trees help fight climate change, restore wildlife habitat, improve air and water quality, and expand recreational opportunities.

Visit www.getonboardnow.org/ for more information.

Evan Almighty

Evan Almighty is the first big movie comedy to zero out its impact on the environment:

• The film's production was carbon-offset through a donation to The Conservation Fund.
• All the landscaping, lumber, windows, and other reusable materials were donated to Habitat for Humanity.
• Crew members were given bicycles by director Tom Shadyac to reduce car usage.
• Recycled paper, plastic, aluminum, and glass were used on set.
• Trees were planted in Crozet, VA—a filming site—as a thank-you to the community.
• HtoO water was used—a company that donates 100% of after-tax profits to charity.