The Earth Hour Quiz: Are You Walking the Green Talk on Sustainability?

Are you a genuine greenie or guilty of greenwashing? Let's find out...

This evening is Earth Hour 2023 - 25th March, 8:30-9:30 pm in your local time.

Let's honour Earth Hour with a fun quiz to spotlight your environmental awareness and discover what shade of green you are!

1. What is Earth Hour?

Earth Hour is a global movement to bring attention to the effects and issues of climate change and nature loss, and a call on individuals, businesses and communities all around the world to Give an Hour for Earth, by switching off their lights for an hour.

2. Who started Earth Hour?

a) Greenpeace b) WWF c)The Nature Conservancy

b. WWF initiated Earth Hour in 2007, in Sydney. Today, 16 years on, more than 180 countries have supported the event, and it has harnessed the power of the people to unite in advocating environmental awareness and championing legislative changes. Do check out your local WWF chapter for activities beyond switching off lights.

3. How much power is saved during Earth Hour?

a) 4% b) 28% c) That's not the point

c. According to Science Direct, in a survey of 274 measurements spanning 10 countries over 6 years, these events reduced electricity consumption by an average of 4% to an incredible 28% (Canada). But the real purpose of Earth Hour is not to compare and compete on measurable electricity savings. It is in fact to illuminate (punny, I know) how purposeful behaviour can convert short-term actions into long-term habits and behaviour, which can extend to sustained changes in best practices and investment.

4. Is Carbon Neutral the same as Net Zero?

a) Yes b) No

b. No, Carbon Neutral is not the same as Net Zero. Check out my previous blog post on this - Carbon Neutrality: Is it Enough for True Sustainability? TL;DR - Carbon Neutral focuses on balancing carbon emissions, such as through carbon offsets; whereas Net Zero focuses on eliminating carbon, typically through energy reduction and efficiency measures, renewable energy sources, and other sustainable practices.

5. Which is more environmentally friendly? A company that:

a) offsets its carbon emissions or b) reduces its carbon emissions?

b. Both practices can be environmentally friendly, but if a company is only offsetting their carbon emissions without taking action to reduce them, it may be a form of greenwashing.

6. Which has lower carbon emissions?

a) Driving an EV or b) Taking a bus

b. While driving an EV (electric vehicle) can be more environmentally friendly than driving an ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicle, taking a bus is generally a more sustainable option because it can transport more people at once, which reduces overall carbon emissions per person.

7. What is the term used to describe the process of designing buildings that optimise natural light and ventilation?

a) Biophilic design or b) Passive design

b. Passive design - which refers to the use of siting, orientation, natural lighting, ventilation, and heating/cooling to reduce a building's energy consumption and environmental impact.

In contrast, biophilic design is focused on creating a strong connection between people and nature, by incorporating natural elements and processes into the building design. While these also include incorporating natural light and views, and using natural materials, however, its emphasis is on promoting occupant well-being.

8. Which building material has the highest carbon footprint?

a) Steel b) Aluminium c) Concrete

c. Concrete has the highest carbon footprint among the three options because it requires large amounts of energy to produce, mainly due to the cement manufacturing process which involves the burning of fossil fuels, and the release of carbon dioxide emissions as a byproduct.

Steel and Aluminium also have high carbon footprints, but they generally require less energy to produce than concrete. However, their environmental impact can vary depending on factors such as the source of the raw materials, the production process, and the energy efficiency of the manufacturing facilities. In all of them and any building material for that matter, it is also important to consider the carbon footprint of transporting the material to the final site.

9. Which is more energy efficient?

a) AC fan or b) DC fan

b. DC (direct current) fans are more energy-efficient than AC (alternating current) fans because they use less power and can operate at variable speeds, which allows them to consume less energy when the cooling load is low. Additionally, DC fans can be powered by renewable energy sources such as solar power, making them a more sustainable option overall. What kind do you have in your home?

10. Which is more important to consider in building design?

a) Operational energy or b) Embodied carbon

a + b. Both operational energy and embodied carbon are important to consider in building design, but embodied carbon is often overlooked and accounts for a significant portion of a building's carbon footprint over its lifetime. This is a huge topic and one important framework is the SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative), which provides guidelines and encourages companies to consider both operational and embodied carbon emissions in their reduction efforts.

11. Which sustainable building certification focuses on high-performance green buildings?

a) LEED or b) WELL

a. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). It covers a range of criteria, including energy efficiency, water efficiency, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation in design, and is one of the most widely used and respected green building rating systems recognised internationally. The WELL Building Standard, also a globally leading standard, focuses on promoting health and well-being in buildings and is thus more building-occupant-centric. Its performance standards are organised into seven categories, namely air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind.

12. Which is more important in real estate sustainability?

a) reducing energy consumption or b) investing in renewable energy?

a + b. Both reducing energy consumption and investing in renewable energy are important in real estate sustainability, but reducing energy consumption should be prioritised as it can reduce carbon emissions and energy costs over the long term.

13. Which enables a smaller carbon footprint? A building that:

a) sources renewable energy or b) uses smart building management systems (BMS)?

a. Although a smart BMS can optimise a building's energy use and reduce waste, the carbon footprint of the building will still depend on the source of electricity used. On the other hand, a building that sources renewable energy such as solar, wind, or geothermal power can significantly reduce its carbon footprint by reducing or eliminating its reliance on grid electricity generated from fossil fuels.

14. What is the primary benefit of green roofs on buildings?

a) Reducing stormwater runoff or b) Generating solar energy

a. While solar panels can be installed on green roofs to generate solar energy, generating solar energy is not the primary benefit of green roofs. The primary focus of green roofs is to provide environmental benefits, such as reducing urban heat island effects, improving air quality, and providing a habitat for birds, in addition to reducing stormwater runoff. This can help to prevent flooding, reduce erosion, and improve water quality.

15. What is the term used to describe buildings that can adapt to changing environmental conditions?

a) Resilient buildings or b) Adaptive buildings

b. Resilient buildings and adaptive buildings are related terms that are often used to describe buildings that can respond to changing environmental conditions, but they have slightly different meanings.

Adaptive buildings are designed to be easily reconfigured, upgraded, or retrofitted to meet changing needs or preferences over time to stay relevant. On the other hand, building resiliency is about preparing for and mitigating risks, such as natural or man-made disasters, like earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, or power outages, as well as contingencies for sea level rises - to ensure that a building can continue to function and provide essential services in the face of disruptions.

What's Your "15 Shades of Green" Score?

How did you score? Did you learn something new?

I wanted to go to 50 so that I could call the quiz "50 Shades of Green"... but in the interest of getting this out before the countdown to Earth Hour, here it is.

I hope you had as much fun going through the questions as I did in researching these. My takeaway is that there is always a new angle or nuance to learn. It also feels great to validate what you know as accurate.

Making a positive impact has a flywheel - awareness, action, and advocacy.

Wishing one and all an awesome Earth Hour today and every day. Remember, every action counts. And don't just switch off lights, literally unplug every electrical device. Otherwise, you won't be walking your green talk! ;)

For more insights and inspiration, share this quiz and blog with others!