W I R
B R I N G E N
D I E
W I R T S C H A F T
I N S
PLUS
ENGLISH
K L A S S E N Z I M M E R
SUSTAINABILITY
3
NOV. | 2012
Sustainability
Contents
Getting started…
Brainstorming, pair work, ranking of ideas, a game, talk about given
facts, personal comment.
Vocabulary and language
a quiz – test your knowledge on sustainability, words/phrases related to
sustainability (definitions / explanations / translations / a word search
game), work with the definition of sustainability, analyse a song
(summarise and find synonyms), information on local food (wordediting), a class survey + report, discussion about different scenarios,
design your own campaign
Newspaper article 1
“To Find Fields to Farm in New York City, Just Look Up”
 word formation, elicit information + collect ideas, answer questions,
role play, vocabulary work, answer questions based on video clip, find
pros and cons, present personal viewpoint, write an opinion essay
Newspaper article 2
“Chain Stores Said to Lead Firms in Use of Sun Power”
 word match (compounds), fill in gaps, summary writing, elicit and
structure information, verb phrases + prepositions, creative ideas
Students will

learn and talk about sustainability: basic facts and figures

share their views and attitudes towards and express their opinion on different aspects of
environmental issues and sustainability

scan newspaper articles for information, rephrase and summarize them

revise, study and get to know words and phrases (dictionary search, sentence match, word/synonym
match, games, etc.)

work on their vocabulary (explain words, synonym match)

revise writing tasks: opinion essay and report

improve teamwork (group work, conduct survey, present findings)

work on the English sentence structure (word editing, sentence match)

train their listening abilities
t
rain their note taking abilities (video clip + answers)
revise skills used in the centralised exam (Standardisierte Reifeprüfung Neu)
1
2
Sustainability
1
GETTING STARTED…
1A
Brainstorming
List 3 daily activities that you can think of (e.g. brushing your teeth). Then identify which resources of
some sort are needed for you to be able to perform them (e.g. energy, water, manpower, etc.).
Activities
Resources
e.g. brushing your teeth
production of toothbrush (plastic, transport)
water (provision of potable water, plumber, water resources)
1.
2.
3.
1B
Helping the environment
Which of these actions will help the environment most? Rank them and share your rankings with your
partner. Put the best at the top. Discuss your outcomes in class.
Ranking

walk instead of drive

use 50% less water

stop eating meat

grow your own food

use energy-saving light-bulbs

turn heaters and AC down

invest in solar energy

turn off electrical goods at night








adapted from: http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1208/120829-arctic_sea_ice.html
3
Sustainability
1C
A game: Sustainable Bingo
Find someone for each category and write his or her name in the square. You cannot use another
person’s name more than …. (Ask your teacher, this depends on the group’s size). Call out BINGO
when you have six squares in a row/column/diagonal.
uses public
transport to get
to school
uses compost
practices yoga
had a holiday in
Austria
belongs to a
community
group
plays a musical
instrument or
sings
donated to a
local charity in
the last year
can name 3
native plants
grows own
veggies
supported an
environ-mental
cause
has a solar hot
water system
enjoys relaxing
outside
bought a
second-hand
item in the last
year
buys locally
grown fruit and
vegetable
has cycled in the
last week
visited a
national park in
the last year
has a water
saving shower
head
uses their own
shopping bags
has planted a
tree in the last
year
opens the
window instead
of A/C
hangs up clothes
instead of using
dryer
grows own
herbs
drives a small
fuel-efficient car
reuses waste
paper for notes
has only one
fridge
recycles glass
recycles all cans
and paper
shops at the
market
bought organic
vegetables last
week
shares home
produce with
neighbours
uses vinegar to
clean with
has a rainwater
tank
has a dual-flush
toilet
has a fruit tree
drinks around 2
litres of water a
day
takes time to sit
down + eat
meals
adapted from: http://www.sustainabilitykit.net.au
Sustainability
1D
Read through these environmental facts. What is your reaction? Is there anything that you didn’t
know? Anything that surprises you? Talk to your partner, then share ideas in class.

A tap leaking at the rate of one drip a second wastes more than 12,000 litres of water a year.

Up to 90 per cent of the materials used in a mobile phone can be recycled.

Almost 10 per cent of our rubbish in landfill is packaging.

Cycling 10 kilometres each way to work can save you about $1,700 in transport costs and 1,500 kilograms
of greenhouse gas emissions each year.

Urban air pollution causes 800,000 premature deaths each year.

If everyone on Earth lived as Americans do, we would need 3 Earths, if everyone lived as people from
Northwest Africa, only 15 Earths.

If everyone in the US changed just one bulb to a compact florescent light, it would save enough energy to
power 3 million homes for a year.

Each year, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide. That comes out to
over one million per minute. Billions end up as litter each year.

Americans throw away 25 billion Styrofoam cups each year.
from: http://www.sswahs.nsw.gov.au/concord/sustainability/content/pdf/sustainability_facts.pdf and
http://www.sustainablebraintree.org/learnmore
1E
Personal comment
Look at the following cartoon, and together with your partner talk about what message the cartoon
wants to convey. What do you think about the cartoon? Share your thoughts with the rest of the
class.
from: http://www.toonpool.com/user/1949/files/talking_abot_sustainability_1026145.jpg
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5
Sustainability
2
VOCABULARY AND LANGUAGE
2A
Sustainable words
Match the words from column A with their appropriate explanation from column B.
A
B
atmosphere
a mixture of hydrocarbon gases that occurs with petroleum deposits, principally
methane, and is used as a fuel and in the manufacture of organic compounds
biomass
a material that is harmful to living things
coal
able to supply our needs today without harming future generation’s needs
electricity
a natural dark brown to black soft rock used as a fuel that was formed from
fossilized plants that is burned in large power plants to create electricity
energy
a light bulb that fits standard light fixtures but uses a phosphor coating to
transform ultraviolet energy into visible light
energy efficiency
using less energy to perform the same function
compact fluorescent
light bulb
naturally occurring carbon or hydrocarbon fuel (e.g. coal, natural gas and oil),
formed by the decomposition of pre-historic organisms
fossil fuel
electricity produced from moving water
fuel
electric current used or regarded as a source of power
geothermal
using or producing heat
global warming
something consumed to produce energy
hydroelectric
relating to the sun
natural gas
something that has a limited supply that can not be replaced nor replenished
non-renewable
the gaseous mass or envelope surrounding the Earth and retained by Earth’s
gravitational field
pollution
forms of energy that derive and quickly replenish from the natural movements and
mechanisms of the environment, such as sunshine, wind, movement of the seas
and the heat of the Earth
renewable energy
organic matter, such as plants or garbage, that can be used as an energy source
solar
the ability to do work
sustainable
heat created from inside the Earth
thermal
the warming that occurs in the atmosphere that surrounds Earth because of
pollution
adapted from: Renewable Energy and Sustainability (http://www.infinitepower.org)
6
Sustainability
2B
What do you know about sustainability?
Go through the questions and try to answer them. Then ask your teacher to give you the answers.
Compare your results. Is there anything that is new to you?
1.
2.
Which of the following uses alternative renewable energy?
a.
electricity from coal mining
b.
the Energizer Bunny
c.
electricity from photovoltaic (PV) cells
d.
electricity from heat and steam from nuclear reactors
How much trash does the average person send to the landfill annually?
a. 500 pounds
3.
5.
6.
b. 30 minutes
c. 3 hours
d. 3 years
a
irrigation
b.
domestic use, e.g. drinking, showering, cooking
c.
water parks
d.
industrial, e.g. production of metals, wood and paper products, chemicals
What is the leading cause of pollution of streams, rivers, and oceans?
a.
dumping of garbage by cities
b.
surface water running off city streets, yards, paved lots, and farm fields
c.
trash washed into ocean from beaches
d.
waste dumped by factories
Substitute a compact fluorescent light for a traditional bulb and it would keep …… of CO2 out of the
atmosphere over the life of the bulb.
b. Half a ton
c. 100 pounds
d. 1 pound
How much paper does the average government employee use each year?
a. 10,000 pounds
8.
d. 1 million pounds
The U.S. consumes most of their water supply for which purpose?
a. 100 tons
7.
c. 1,500 pounds
Recycling one aluminium can saves enough money to run a personal computer for:
a. 3 seconds
4.
b. 700 pounds
b. 4 tons
Which of the following will reduce storm water runoff?
a.
replacing grass with synthetic turf
b.
installing a green roof
c.
planting a rain garden/bio swale
d.
all of the above
c. 100,000 pounds
d.1,000 pounds
7
Sustainability
9.
What are the sustainability advantages derived from teleworking?
a.
lower commuting costs
b.
reduces greenhouse gas emissions from employee travel and commuting
c.
reduces greenhouse gas emissions from use of electricity, heat, and steam
d.
all of the above
adapted from: http://www.denix.osd.mil/sustainability/quiz.cfm
The following words are taken from the quiz. Give the German equivalent for each:
landfill
runoff
irrigation
synthetic turf
to dump
swale
storm water
to commute
2C
Sustainability – a definition
Connect the parts in column A with the ones in column B and
put them into the right order to produce a meaningful
paragraph. Write it down below. What do the phrases in bold
mean? Can you explain them in English?
WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY?
http://www.epa.gov/sustainability/basicinfo.htm
Column A
Column B
Sustainability creates and maintains the conditions
depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural
environment.
Sustainability is based on a simple principle:
Everything that we need for our survival and wellbeing
under which humans and nature can exist in
productive harmony.
A harmony that permits fulfilling the social, economic
and other requirements
to protect human health and our environment.
Sustainability is important to making sure that we
have and will continue to have, the water, materials,
and resources
of present and future generations.
8
Sustainability
Write down the complete definition of sustainability:
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2D
A game: recycling categories
Work in teams of two to think of things to put in the recycling columns. The words must all begin with the
same letter (which your teacher gives you). You’ll have a minute for each letter.
Letter
Paper/Wood
Plastic
Metal
Glass
Organic
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Sustainability
2E
Singing about environmental problems: Don’t Go Near The Water (Johnny Cash)
a)
Listen to the song Don’t Go Near The Water by singer Johnny Cash (e.g. on youtube). While
listening, fill in the missing words.
From the (1) ………………. in the (2) ……………….
Comes the water running (3) ……………….……………….……………….
And it flows down from the (4) ……………….
And it goes down to the (5) ………………. and passes through
When it gets down to the cities
Then the water (6) ……………….……………….……………….
It's (7) ……………….……………….……………….
By the people (8) ……………….……………….……………….
Don't go near the water children
See the fish all dead (9) ……………….……………….
Don't go near the water
'Cause the water (10) ……………….……………….……………….
I took my boy fishin' to (11) ……………….……………….……………….
I had caught many a fish out of that deep clear water
From the time I was a boy like him
After we'd fished a few minutes
He said, " (12) ……………….……………….……………….?"
I said, "I think I got a (13) ………………. son"
"Me too", he said
Then he said, "Daddy if we catch a fish (14) ……………….………………."
I said, "Well there was a time son
This water's (15) ………………. and it might (16) ……………….……………….……………….
But there was a time"
There was a time the air was clean
And you could see forever (17) ……………….……………….……………….
The (18) ……………….……………….……………….
And no one had ever heard of (19) ……………….……………….
We're (20) ………………. the earth
And (21) ……………….……………….……………….……………….
We (22) ……………….……………….
And our children (23) ……………….……………….……………….
Don't go near the water children
See the fish all dead upon the shore
Don't go near the water
'Cause the water isn't water anymore
Don't go near the water children
See the fish all dead upon the shore
Don't go near the water
'Cause the water isn't water anymore
9
Sustainability
b)
Vocabulary work: Find the appropriate words from the song for the following explanations
taken from a dictionary.
1.
....................................–
the land along the edge of the sea or ocean, a lake or
another large area of water
2.
....................................–
a large area of flat land
3.
....................................–
a punishment for breaking a law, rule or contract
4.
....................................–
a structure from which water is sent up into the air by a
pump, used to decorate parks and gardens/yards
5.
....................................–
a small bite of something
6.
....................................–
to hurt somebody physically or mentally in order to punish
them or make them tell you something
7.
....................................–
to add dirty or harmful substances to land, air, water, etc.
so that it is no longer pleasant or safe to use
8.
....................................–
protected from any danger or harm
9.
....................................–
a force that causes bad things to happen; morally bad
behaviour
10.
....................................–
to go against or refuse to obey a law, an agreement, etc.
c)
Read through the lyrics again and summarise the main idea of the song in a few sentences.
Read your summaries out in class and compare them.
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2F
Editing: local food
You are going to read a definition of local food. In some lines of the text there is one
word that is not necessary. Write the extra word in the space provided after each line.
Some lines are correct. Indicate these with a tick. The first two have been done for
you.
WHAT EXACTLY IS LOCAL FOOD?
from: from: http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/eatlocal/
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11
Sustainability
Talk of local food is everywhere. But what does it mean? How local is local?

0
Practically speaking, local food production can be thought of as in
as
0
concentric circles that start with growing food at home. The next ring out
…………………………
1
might be food that grown in our immediate community - then state, region,
…………………………
2
and country. For some parts of the year or for some of products that thrive
…………………………
3
in the local climate, it may be possible but to buy closer to home. At other
…………………………
4
times, or for less common products, an expanded reach may be required.
…………………………
5
…………………………
6
practice of eating a diet consisting of food harvested from within an area
…………………………
7
most commonly bound to by a 100 mile radius. While local is certainly a
…………………………
8
flexible term, the basic concept is simple: local foods are produced as close
…………………………
9
to home as possible.
…………………………
10
People who value local as their primary food criterion to promote the
Based on the information from the text think about what local food would be for your region. What
are products you would have to transport from farther away? Together with your partner collect local
food items. Then share your ideas in class and complement your list.
12
Sustainability
2G
Sustainable lifestyles – a survey in class
a)
Conduct a survey to find out the people’s attitude towards a sustainable lifestyle. Ask as
many people as possible. Be sure to find people of different age groups (teenagers and
grown-ups) and don’t forget to note how many you asked in total. Count how many people
said yes for each question.
teenagers
Question
1.
Do you usually switch off lights when you leave a room?
2.
Have you bought organic fruit or vegetables in the last two weeks?
3.
Have you used your bike or public transport in the last two weeks?
4.
Have you taken bottles to the bottle bank in the last two weeks?
5.
Have you used the second side of already used paper in the last two weeks?
6.
Do you wrap your school lunch in plastic or aluminium wrap?
7.
Have you bought fast food in a plastic or Styrofoam container in the last two weeks?
8.
Have you paid more for something because it is environmentally friendly in the last two
weeks?
9.
Have you used plastic bags for your shopping in the last two weeks?
10
Have you turned off the TV at the wall in the last two weeks?
b)
Share your findings with the rest of the class. Use some of the language provided to present
your findings:
 A survey was carried out in our class, to find out how green people are.
 The results of the survey show that ... and/but ...
 Fortunately/Unfortunately ...
 some / half the / most of the / only a few people
 only one person
 The results of the survey suggest that the students of ... are ... green.
adapted from http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/
c)
Imagine you work for the school development team, whose duty is to find new and
innovative ideas for the school. Based on the numbers in a) you have to write a report for
the head teacher. What are your recommendations?
Before you start, remember the structure and layout of a report: the head, different
paragraphs with individual headings and recommendations in your conclusion.
grown-ups
Sustainability
2H
Sustainable scenarios?
The following scenarios are taken from a survey on sustainable lifestyles. Look at the different
scenarios, and together with your partner decide in how far they propose a sustainable lifestyle if they
do at all. Share your ideas in class.
from: http://www.strategicdesignscenarios.net/global-survey-on-sustainable-lifestyles/
13
Sustainability
How much impact does each of the scenarios presented have for a sustainable lifestyle and why?
Discuss with your partner and based on your outcomes rank the different ideas.
Which of the ideas proposed are applicable in your life?
Our ranking
1. .............................................................................................................
2. .............................................................................................................
3. .............................................................................................................
4. .............................................................................................................
5. .............................................................................................................
14
Sustainability
2I
What can you do? – a campaign
What can you do to promote sustainability and a green lifestyle?
Watch this clip in class:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oROsbaxWH0M
Then talk about what you can do: as an individual,
as a class, as a school. Get together with your
partner and collect ideas how you could adapt a
greener lifestyle. Exchange views with another
group. Then decide on one aspect you could adopt
as a class. Develop a plan for its realisation: what
are the different steps, how would you organise it,
do you need representatives for different tasks,
what support from the school board do you
need,…
In your group develop a marketing strategy to
advertise your idea: Find a catchy title, create a
poster and prepare a speech. In your speech
explain your idea and encourage your classmates
to join your endeavours. Below you find some
useful tips for preparing your speech.
After each group has presented their campaigns,
vote on the most creative and most feasible idea.
Useful language for speeches:
 Do not write your speech but prepare it with prompt cards so that you can talk about the topic fluently.
 Use words that you are comfortable with.
 Make sure you have an interesting beginning (catchy phrase, a question, etc.) that gets your audience’s
attention.
 Make sure your ending rounds off your speech and takes up the same idea as the introduction.
Concentrate on the final sentence!
 Look into the audience and direct your words to them. Don’t look at your notes too often.
 Wear nice and decent clothing – something you feel comfortable in.
 Speak loudly, clearly and slowly so that your audience can follow easily.
15
Sustainability
3
URBAN FARMING:
PROMOTING A SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE
3A
What Is Urban Agriculture?
Read the following definition of “Urban Agriculture”. Use the words in brackets to form new words
that fit in the respective gaps (1-10).
By Molly Watson, About.com Guide
Urban agriculture is a growing (1)
lots, community gardens, highway medians,
..................... (move) in the U.S.
and other open spaces.
that seeks to (2) .....................
(center) the food system by creating small,
What makes urban agriculture
local food producing centers in urban
(7) ................ (difference) from
areas.
traditional gardening is both the
(8) ..................... (add) of some
Urban agriculture (3) .....................
kind of livestock – most commonly chickens,
(reference) to the practice of growing food
bees, or rabbits – as well as some level of
of all sorts – fruits, vegetables, eggs,
(9) ..................... (sale),
meat, honey, even space-using grains – in
bartering, or otherwise (10)
urban areas that haven't (4)
..................... (provision) food
......................... (tradition) been
beyond the immediate household(s) or the
(5) …...................... (dedication) to
grower(s).
food production. Urban agriculture can take
place in yards,
(6) ........................ (vacancy)
from: http://localfoods.about.com/od/localfoodsglossary/g/What-Is-Urban-Agriculture.htm
In what way does Urban Agriculture promote a sustainable lifestyle?
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Sustainability
3B
Read the following article, then do the tasks below.
To Find Fields to Farm in New
York City, Just Look Up
By LISA W. FODERARO
July 11, 2012
from: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/12/nyregion/in-rooftop-farming-new-york-cityemerges-as-a-leader.html?ref=urbanagriculture&_r=moc.semityn.www
[…] New York City […] is suddenly a farming
kind of town […]. Almost a decade after the
last
family
farm
within
the
city’s
boundaries closed, basil and bok choy are
growing in Brooklyn, and tomatoes, leeks
and
cucumbers
in
Queens.
Commercial
agriculture is bound for the South Bronx,
where the city recently solicited proposals
for what would be the largest rooftop farm
in the United States, and possibly the
world.
Fed by the interest in locally grown
produce, the new farm operations in New
York
are
selling
greens
and
other
vegetables by the boxful to organically
inclined residents, and by the bushel to
supermarket chains like Whole Foods. The
main difference between this century and
previous ones is location: whether soilbased or hydroponic, in which vegetables
are grown in water rather than soil, the
new farms are
spreading on rooftops,
perhaps the last slice of untapped real
estate in the city.
―In
terms
of
rooftop
commercial
agriculture, New York is definitely a
leader at this moment,‖ said Joe Nasr, coauthor of ―Carrot City: Creating Places for
Urban Agriculture‖ and a researcher at the
Centre for Studies in Food Security at
Ryerson University in Toronto. ―I expect it
will continue to expand, and much more
rapidly, in the near future.‖
emissions, a goal of Mayor
Bloomberg’s administration.
Michael
R.
Community gardeners and educators have
tended plots and grown food for years. But
they have only recently been joined by forprofit companies intent on getting back to
the urban land.
Gotham Greens began harvesting from its
hydroponic greenhouse on a rooftop in the
Greenpoint section of Brooklyn last year;
it plans to open three more next year in
Brooklyn,
Queens
and
the
Bronx.
The
existing operation, with 20 employees,
grows bok choy, basil and oak leaf lettuce,
and sells to retailers like Whole Foods and
FreshDirect.
Brooklyn Grange, another farming operation,
incorporated with the intention of finding
a site in Brooklyn. But two years ago, a
one-acre rooftop became available instead
in Long Island City, Queens. The partners,
led by Ben Flanner, the president and head
farmer, spread out 1.2 million pounds of
soil and started planting. This spring,
Brooklyn Grange finally made good on its
name, starting a second farm on a 65,000square-foot roof at the Brooklyn Navy Yard,
where more than 100 rows feature pattypan
squash, scallions and beefsteak tomatoes.
Mr. Flanner pointed out two benefits to an
agricultural aerie — plentiful sun and an
absence of pests. ―There are a number of
parallels with regular agriculture,‖ he
said. ―What we don’t have are deer or foxes
or rodents.‖
One challenge: wind, which can whip between
buildings and topple delicate seedlings.
―We have to be clever to come up with
solutions to reduce the amount of wind on
the plants,‖ he said. ―We do a lot of
staking and trellising.‖
For city officials, the rise of commercial
agriculture has ancillary benefits, as
well. Rooftop farms have the potential to
capture millions of gallons of storm water
and divert it from the sewer system, which
can overflow when it rains. And harvesting
produce in the boroughs means fewer trucks
on local roadways and lower greenhouse gas
Plans are in the works for even larger
operations. In March, BrightFarms, which
develops greenhouses near supermarkets to
shorten the food-supply chain, announced it
would
create
a
sprawling
hydroponic
greenhouse on a roof in Sunset Park,
Brooklyn, that is expected to yield a
million pounds of produce a year. The chief
executive,
Paul
Lightfoot,
said
the
greenhouse would occupy up to 100,000
Sustainability
square feet, making it the nation’s largest
such operation when it opens next year. […]
reasons, you are still left with a large
number that could be considered.‖
While there may be a veritable prairie of
empty rooftops in the city, not all are
suitable for growing crops, Mr. Nasr, of
Ryerson University, said. Roofs must be
strong enough to accommodate the weight of
either soil or a greenhouse, and if they
are not, strengthening them can be costly.
Access is also a challenge, with some
buildings lacking stairs or an elevator to
the roof. Not all roofs enjoy full sun,
with shadows cast by adjacent buildings.
And neighbors wary of increased traffic and
noise can be prickly.
The
City
Planning
Department
recently
revamped
the
zoning
regulations
to
encourage
green
development,
including
rooftop
farms,
and
the
City
Council
approved the changes. […] Amanda M. Burden,
the planning commissioner, credited the
changes with ―creating more places for
urban agriculture to take root in a dense,
built-up environment.‖
Whether the relaxation of the zoning rules
will unleash a flood of new proposals
remains to be seen. None, so far, are
planned for Park Avenue.
―But in New York City,‖ Mr. Nasr said,
―even if you eliminate roofs for all those
a)
Find all the words referring to a farm’s crop.
............................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
b)
What are the benefits of rooftop farming for the city mentioned in the article?
............................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
c)
What are advantages of rooftop farms? What are challenges rooftop farms have to face?
............................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
d)
Can you think of more examples for the latter two categories? Complement your lists.
18
Sustainability
3C
Role play
Get together in groups of 7 students and imagine you are on a radio debate on the topic “Urban
Farming is the key to sustainability!” Choose one of the following roles:
a)
the chair who leads through the discussion
b)
a townsman who owns a farm on a rooftop and embraces the idea of living a sustainable
lifestyle, also stressing the city’s benefits of rooftop/urban farming
c)
an environmentalist who promotes ‘local food’ and the shortening of the food-supply chain
to support sustainability
e)
a city official who says that zoning plans prohibit agricultural use of residential or industrial
areas within a city
g)
a neighbour who is annoyed by the view, smell and noise of nearby farms
Get together with your colleagues of the other group(s) who represent the same roles (e.g. all the
farmers, all the neighbours, etc.) and prepare yourself for the discussion. Collect arguments which
support your position, but also think about what the others might say and provide counterarguments.
Make use of the information provided in the article, but also search the internet. Do not forget to take
notes and prepare your most important arguments (use keywords, not sentences!).
Now get together in your discussion-group again and perform your debate in front of the class.
19
20
Sustainability
3D
Back Yard Farming: Meet the Dervaes family
a)
First, match the phrases in column A with their explanations in column B. Then do
the tasks below.
A
B
to pitch in
a house with the land and buildings around it, especially a farm
to beat a path to sb’s door
a plant grown for its grain that is used to produce the flour for bread, cakes,
pasta, etc; the grain of this plant
wheat
to join in and help with an activity, by doing some of the work or by giving
money, advice, etc
oats
the top layer of the earth in which plants, trees, etc. grow
decade
process of supplying water to an area of land through pipes or channels so
that crops will grow
off the grid
not using the public supplies of electricity, gas, water
a 9-to-5 job
the amount of grain, fruit, etc. that is grown in one season
soil
grain grown in cool countries as food for animals and for making flour,
porridge/oatmeal, etc.
get the most out of sth
a weather condition in which the temperature drops below 0°C (= freezing
point ) so that a thin white layer of ice forms on the ground and other
surfaces, especially at night
beekeeper
to gain or obtain something good from sb/sth
edible
causing destruction or damage
beet
to destroy or remove sb/sth completely
solar panel
a plant with a round dark red root that is cooked and eaten as a vegetable
frost
a person who owns and takes care of bees
wipe out
a job that includes the normal working hours in an office
crop
a period of ten years, especially a continuous period, such as 1910–1919 or
2000–2009
destructive
a piece of equipment on a roof that uses light and heat energy from the sun
to produce hot water and electricity
irrigation
if a lot of people beat a path to sb's door, they are all interested in
something that person has to sell, or can do or tell them
homestead
to be the first to do/discover sth that others follow
blaze a trail
fit or suitable to be eaten; not poisonous
Sustainability
b)
Now go to www.youtube.com and watch a short news report of SoCal Connected, a
Californian news magazine that investigates and reports on the issues that affect Southern
California. The clip presents the Dervaes family, who grow all they need in their backyard.
While watching, take notes in order to be able to answer the questions below.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpRxU-Ze-9E&feature=related
c)

What are some of the fruits and animals that are shown/mentioned in the report?

How did the family begin their undertaking? What was the trigger?

Describe the situation/project. In what way can it be called sustainable?

What does the family’s motto “the path of freedom” refer to?

What are the duties of each family member? Who is responsible for what?

What were some difficulties the family has/d to face?
What do you think about this kind of lifestyle? Could you imagine living like that? Why
(not)? Together with your partner collect ideas and find pros and cons. Share your ideas in
class.
Pros:
Cons:
………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………….
Choose one side of the argument and write an opinion essay (around 400 words). Remember the
formal characteristics, style and register of an opinion essay.
d)
Find
carnivore
herbivore
omnivore
insectivore
vegetarian
fruitarian:
vegan
locavore
In the news report the Dervaes family is called “locavore”. Do you know what that means?
explanations for this and each of the following concepts.
21
22
Sustainability
4
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ON ITS WAY
4A
First match the words in column A with the words in column B. Then use the compounds to
complete the following article.
Column A
Column B
energy
stores
makeup
panels
retail
power
fuel
practice
solar
brushes
chief
costs
distribution
stations
business
turbines
trade
arrays
chain
executive
brand
center
wind
chains
charging
cost
solar
group
solar
identity
Chain Stores Said to Lead Firms
in Use of Sun Power
September 12, 2012
by Diane Cardwell
from: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/12/business/energy-environment/chain-storeslead-firms-in-solar-power-use-study-finds.html?ref=sustainablebusiness
The aisles of a typical Walgreens drugstore
are stacked with products promoting their
green attributes, whether they are towels
made
from
recycled
paper
or
(1)
............................... made from
fast-growing grass.
But increasingly, on the roof, a less
visible green endeavor is under way, in the
form of (2) ...............................
feeding power to the store.
Walgreens, which has installed 134 solar
systems across the country and has plans
for many more, says its solar program stems
from the brand’s connection to healthful
living
and
a
bottom-line
desire
to
stabilize
(3)
............................... .
But it has plenty of company from other
big-box
retailers.
Large
(4)
..............................., more than
any other type of business, rely on rooftop
solar power to help meet their energy
needs, according to a report to be released
Wednesday by the Solar Energy Industries
Association and the Vote Solar Initiative,
an advocacy group.
―Five or six years ago, you probably would
have read about a pledge in an annual
report about what they’re doing for the
environment,‖
said
Rhone
Resch,
chief
executive
of
the
association,
a
(5)
................................ ―Now what
you’re seeing is it’s a smart investment
that they’re making for their shareholders,
and
this
is
a
standard
(6)
................................‖
Sustainability
Led by the likes of Walmart, Costco and
Kohl’s, commercial installations of solar
power have increased sharply in recent
months. More than 3,600 nonresidential
systems were activated in the first half of
2012, bringing the number of individual
solar electric systems to 24,000, the
report said.
Whether
driven
by
(7)
...............................
or
cost
concerns, almost half of the top 20
commercial
solar
customers
are
major
retailers like Bed Bath & Beyond and
Staples.
Ikea, one of the chains in the top 20,
plans
to
have
(8)
............................... on almost
all
of
its
furniture
stores
and
distribution centers by the end of the
year, Joseph Roth, a spokesman, said.
Some
retailers,
including
Walmart
and
Kohl’s, now routinely evaluate the solar
potential of older and new buildings.
At
Walgreens,
(9)
............................... is becoming
so common that the chain changed its
standard design template to more easily
accommodate the equipment. ―We literally
will invest in solar in any state‖ if it
makes
sense
economically,
said
Menno
Enters,
director
of
energy
and
sustainability for the drugstore chain.
Retailers are pursuing
renewable energy as well.
other
forms
of
Kohl’s, a department store chain, will have
150 solar locations by the end of this
year, the company said. But it is also
testing wind energy and plans to expand the
number
of
electric
vehicle
(10)
...............................
at
its
stores.
Ikea has included a geothermal power system
at a new store in Centennial, Colo.
Walmart, which has 150 solar installations
and plans to have 1,000 by 2020, is also
experimenting with wind. It has put small
(11) ............................... atop
the lamp posts in some of its store parking
lots, and it has installed a giant onemegawatt
wind
turbine
at
a
(12)
...............................
in
Red
Bluff, Calif. The chain, which has an
aggressive goal of eventually deriving all
of its energy from renewable sources, is
also drawing power from fuel cells in some
locations, said Kim Saylors-Laster, vice
president of energy for the company.
Executives say part of the appeal of the
solar systems is that big-box stores are
exactly that: big boxes with plenty of roof
space to put up their arrays to help cover
heavy
electrical
needs
for
lighting,
heating and cooling and, in some cases,
refrigeration.
Many of the chains began with a few
installations about five years ago but have
picked up the pace in recent years as the
price of equipment has plummeted. The
average price of a finished commercial
photovoltaic system, for example, dropped
by almost 14 percent between the second
quarter of 2011 and the second quarter of
2012, the report said.
In addition, new financing approaches — in
which
third-party
companies
offer
to
install systems for little or no money
upfront and instead take fixed payments for
the electricity generated over a long-term
agreement — has made solar even more
attractive. Although the cost savings from
these arrangements are not as great as for
residential
customers,
the
agreements
insulate the companies against fluctuations
in electricity costs, said Lyndon Rive, the
(13)
...............................
of
SolarCity, which provides solar products
and services, and counts Walmart among its
commercial customers,
―When you look at renewables, there’s not a
spiking
of
the
(14)
...............................,‖ Mr. Rive
said. ―You’re locking your rates, which is
a great hedge for a big percentage of your
energy needs.‖
Ultimately, Mr. Resch said, the growth of
solar
at
(15)
............................... reflects a
shift in mind-set.
―For most of these companies, the roof is a
liability and is something they need to
sink money into repairing every 10 or 15
years,‖ he said. ―These companies are
actually turning the roof into an asset.
It’s a completely different way of thinking
about their facilities.‖
23
24
Sustainability
Summarise the article in 3 to 5 sentences. Compare your results. Have all the important aspects been
included?
............................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
4B
In the article, several big enterprises and their “green undertakings” are mentioned. Go
through the article again and complete the following table.
Enterprise
Present undertakings
Future plans
4C
Choose the correct expression to complete the sentences from the article.
1)
The aisles of a typical Walgreens drugstore are stacked with products promoting their green
attributes.
a) with
2)
c) up
Walgreens says its solar program stems from the brand’s connection to healthful living and
a bottom-line desire to stabilize energy costs.
a) of / in order to
3)
b) on
b) from / to
c) from / upon
Large chain stores rely on rooftop solar power to help meet their energy needs.
a) to
b) of
c) on
25
Sustainability
4)
We literally will invest in solar in any state” if it makes sense economically, said Menno Enters,
director of energy and sustainability for the drugstore chain.
a) into
5)
b) with
c)in
The chain, which has an aggressive goal of eventually deriving all of its energy from renewable
sources, is also drawing power from fuel cells in some locations, said Kim Saylors-Laster, vice
president of energy for the company.
a) of / from / from
7)
c) within
Walmart, which has 150 solar installations and plans to have 1,000 by 2020, is also experimenting
with wind.
a) on
6)
b) in
b) to / of / from
c)of / from / on
Executives say part of the appeal of the solar systems is that big-box stores are exactly that: big boxes
with plenty of roof space to put up their arrays to help cover heavy electrical needs for lighting,
heating and cooling.
a) on / for
b) up / to
c) up /for
8)
Many of the chains began with a few installations about five years ago but have picked up the pace in
recent years.
a) up
9)
c) from
“For most of these companies, the roof is a liability and is something they need to sink money into
repairing every 10 or 15 years,” he said. “These companies are actually turning the roof into an asset.
It’s a completely different way of thinking about their facilities.”
a) in / in / of
4D
b) on
b) into / into / about
c) into / in / of
Innovative ideas for our future
“For most of these companies, the roof is a liability and is something they need to sink money into
repairing every 10 or 15 years,” he said. “These companies are actually turning the roof into an asset. It’s
a completely different way of thinking about their facilities.”
This is the last paragraph of the article. Read through it again. These companies make use of
otherwise unused or hardly used areas in order to save money and play their part in saving the
environment.
Together with your partner make a list of enterprises, public buildings and structures in your
area/city/town, which you think could adapt their exterior in order to create similar effects. Be
creative! Prepare a poster, find a catchy title and present your ideas in class. Vote on the most
creative and useful ideas. Who has come up with the best ideas?
Sustainability
ANSWERS
2A
2B
2C
2E
2F
3A
3B
3D
4A
4B
4C
atmosphere – the gaseous mass or envelope surrounding the Earth | biomass – organic matter, such as plants or
garbage, that can be used as an energy source | coal – a natural dark brown to black soft rock used as a fuel that was
formed from fossilized plants | electricity – electric current used or regarded as a source of power | energy – the ability
to do work | energy efficiency – using less energy to perform the same function | compact fluorescent light bulb – a
light bulb that fits standard light fixtures but uses a phosphor coating to transform ultraviolet energy into visible light
| fossil fuel – naturally occurring carbon or hydrocarbon fuel | fuel – something consumed to produce energy |
geothermal – heat created from inside the Earth | global warming – the warming that occurs in the atmosphere that
surrounds Earth | hydroelectric – electricity produced from moving water | natural gas – a mixture of hydrocarbon
gases that occurs with petroleum deposits | non-renewable – something that has a limited supply that can not be
replaced nor replenished | pollution – a material that is harmful to living things | renewable energy – forms of energy
that derive and quickly replenish from the natural movements of the environment | solar – relating to the sun |
sustainable – able to supply our needs today without harming future generation’s needs | thermal – using or
producing heat
1c, 2c, 3c, 4a, 5b, 6b, 7a, 8d, 9d
Sustainability is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either
directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. Sustainability creates and maintains the conditions under which
humans and nature can exist in productive harmony. A harmony that permits fulfilling the social, economic and other
requirements of present and future generations. Sustainability is important to making sure that we have and will
continue to have, the water, materials, and resources to protect human health and our environment.
a) 1 fountains, 2 mountains, 3 cool and clear and blue, 4 hills, 5 towns, 6 turns into a dirty gray, 7 poisoned and
polluted, 8 as it goes along its way, 9 upon the shore, 10 isn't water anymore, 11 my old favorite fishin' hole, 12 Did
you get a bite yet daddy, 13 nibble, 14 can we eat him, 15 bad now, 16 not be safe to eat the fish, 17 'cross the plains,
18 wind was sweet as honey, 19 acid rain, 20 torturin', 21 pourin' every kind of evil in the sea, 22 violated nature, 23
have to pay the penalty.
b) 1 shore, 2 plain, 3 penalty, 4 fountain, 5 nibble, 6 torture, 7 polluted, 8 safe, 9 evil, 10 violate.
1 correct, 2 that, 3 of, 4 but, 5 correct, 6 to, 7 correct, 8 to, 9 correct, 10 correct
1 movement, 2 decentralize, 3 refers, 4 traditionally, 5 dedicated, 6 vacant, 7 different, 8 addition, 9 selling, 10
providing.
crop: basil, bok choy (cabbage), tomatoes, leek, cucumber, oak leaf lettuce, pattypan squash (a kind of mini
pumpkin), scallions (Frühlingszwiebel), beefsteak tomatoes (Fleischtomate) | benefits: 1. capture millions of gallons
of storm water and divert it from the sewer system, 2. fewer trucks on local roadways, 3. lower greenhouse gas
emissions | advantages: plentiful sun, absence of pests (no deer, no foxes, no rodents) | challenges: wind, weight of
soil or greenhouse, access to the roof, shadows cast be adjacent buildings, neighbours sensitive to noise.
a) to pitch in: to join in and help with an activity, by doing some of the work or by giving money, advice, etc | to beat a
path to sb’s door: if a lot of people beat a path to somebody's door, they are all interested in something that person
has to sell, or can do or tell them| wheat: a plant grown for its grain that is used to produce the flour for bread, cakes,
pasta, etc; the grain of this plant | oats: grain grown in cool countries as food for animals and for making flour,
porridge/oatmeal, etc. | decade: a period of ten years, especially a continuous period, such as 1910–1919 or 2000–
2009 | off the grid: not using the public supplies of electricity, gas, water, etc | a 9-to-5 job: a job that includes the
normal working hours in an office | soil: the top layer of the earth in which plants, trees, etc. grow | get the most out
of sth: to gain or obtain something good from sb/sth | beekeeper: a person who owns and takes care of bees
edible: fit or suitable to be eaten; not poisonous | beet: a plant with a round dark red root that is cooked and eaten as
a vegetable | solar panel: a piece of equipment on a roof that uses light and heat energy from the sun to produce hot
water and electricity | frost: a weather condition in which the temperature drops below 0°C (= freezing point ) so that
a thin white layer of ice forms on the ground and other surfaces, especially at night | wipe out: to destroy or remove
somebody/something completely
crop: the amount of grain, fruit, etc. that is grown in one season | destructive: causing destruction or damage |
irrigation: process of supplying water to an area of land through pipes or channels so that crops will grow |
homestead: a house with the land and buildings around it, especially a farm | blaze a trail: to be the first to do or to
discover something that others follow
d) carnivore: an animal that feeds on other animals; herbivore: an animal that feeds on plants; omnivore: an animal or
person that eats a variety of food of both plant and animal origin; insectivore: any animal that eats insects;
vegetarian: a person who does not eat meat or fish; fruitarian: a person who eats only fruit; vegan: a person who does
not eat any animal products such as meat, milk or eggs. Some vegans do not use animal products such as silk or
leather; locavore: a person whose diet consists only or principally of locally grown or produced food.
1 makeup brushes, 2 solar panels, 3 energy costs, 4 chain stores, 5 trade group, 6 business practice, 7 brand identity, 8
solar arrays, 9 solar power, 10 charging stations, 11 wind turbines, 12 distribution center, 13 chief executive, 14 fuel
cost, 15 retail chains.
Walgreens, Costco, Kohl’s, Ikea, Bed Bath & Beyond, Staples, Walmart
1.a, 2.b, 3.c, 4.b, 5.b, 6.a, 7.c, 8.a, 9.b
26
AWS
TIPP
http://www.facebook.com/AWSunterrichtsmaterial
IMPRESSUM: Medieninhaber: AWS Arbeitsgemeinschaft Wirtschaft und Schule im Rahmen des Instituts für Bildungsforschung der Wirtschaft, Wiedner Hauptstraße 63, 1045 Wien
Die Arbeitsgemeinschaft Wirtschaft und Schule (AWS) ist eine Initiative von Wirtschaftskammer Österreich (WKÖ) und Österreichischem Sparkassenverband und ist als Projekt am
Institut für Bildungsforschung der Wirtschaft (ibw), Rainergasse 38, 1050 angesiedelt.
Leiter: Mag. Josef Wallner; Autorin: Mag. Theresa Klimpfinger; Redaktion und Gestaltung: Gudrun Dietrich; Umschlag: ww.designag.at