A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or
more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two
months apart.
All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons
are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have
to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until
the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each
lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such,
we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.
The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final
exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work,
including the final exam.
Week One
Wednesday - Lesson 01
Ready to gear up to go green? In this lesson, we’ll talk about what it means to go green and explore how even small changes can have a positive impact on the environment—and your life! You’ll take a fun interactive quiz to see how green you are right now, learn the science behind some of your everyday activities that affect the health of the planet, and start tracking your consumption habits.
Friday - Lesson 02
In this lesson, we’ll green up your commute by exploring alternatives like carpooling, riding a bike, telecommuting, and public transportation. You’ll find out whether buying used instead of new can really make a positive impact on the environment. And we’ll explore important differences between hybrid, electric, gas, and diesel vehicles so you can make an informed selection the next time you’re shopping for a car. You’ll also learn some practical green driving techniques you can put to work the next time you’re behind the wheel.
Week Two
Wednesday - Lesson 03
Today, you’ll learn how to use less energy at home with easy tips for making your appliances and home electronics run more efficiently. You’ll discover the energy monster lurking in your kitchen and what to do to make it less of a power glutton. Wanda B. Green will show you the green options she’s come up with for replacing appliances and home electronics that have kicked the bucket. And we’ll talk about the hidden power vampires sucking energy all over your home. We’ll wrap things up by exploring your options for greener indoor lighting.
Friday - Lesson 04
In today’s lesson, you’ll learn how to heat and cool your home more efficiently. We’ll discuss the importance of maintaining your current system, explore biofuel blends as an alternative to conventional oil, and look at the greener options of solar panels and geothermal energy. You’ll find out how to conduct an energy audit on your home so you can identify air leaks that need plugging. And we’ll also explore some fun and easy ways to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer without consuming much energy.
Week Three
Wednesday - Lesson 05
Today you’ll learn which paints are healthier for you and the environment, the differences between latex and oil-based paints, and why you should avoid paints high in volatile organic compounds. We’ll talk about the trouble with carpet and your options for greener flooring. You’ll also learn which furniture materials are sustainable and which you should avoid.
Friday - Lesson 06
In this lesson, you’ll discover how to keep your home both green and clean. We’ll explore chemical ingredients used in conventional cleaners and discuss the effects they have on wildlife and our ecosystems. After that, you’ll learn how to put nine common household items to work in homemade cleaning mixtures you can make with very little money and without harming the environment. Wanda B. Green will share a few of her own green cleaning recipes and tips.
Week Four
Wednesday - Lesson 07
In this lesson, we’ll tackle the three R’s of eco-friendly living: reduce, reuse, and recycle. You’ll learn about source reduction—for example, what companies are doing to reduce the use of materials in the manufacture and distribution of their products. And you’ll find out how you, too, can practice source reduction at home. After that, we’ll look at some creative ways to repurpose items around the house instead of tossing those materials into the trash. And, finally, we’ll talk about recycling and composting.
Friday - Lesson 08
You hear the question all the time: “Would you like paper or plastic?” Well, in this lesson, we’re going to get to the bottom of this debate by examining the environmental effects of paper and plastic manufacturing processes. We’ll discuss how manufacturing paper and plastic from recycled materials works and why it does make a difference. And, finally, we’ll pull everything together with a comparison of the pros and cons of plastic and paper bags.
Week Five
Wednesday - Lesson 09
Today we’ll kick off our two-lesson discussion of greener alternatives for food. You’ll learn what conventional large-scale farming practices do to the health of the soil and why it matters. After that, we’ll explore sustainable farming methods that are better for the soil, for us, and for the health of the surrounding ecosystems. You’ll find out what it means for a product to be certified organic and how to identify companies that are greenwashing their products or practices. We’ll wrap things up with a look at what it means to be a locavore and why this consumer approach to food can be good for the environment.
Friday - Lesson 10
In this lesson, you’ll learn about the environmental effects of raising livestock and other meat-producing animals—ranging from contamination caused by manure lagoons at factory farms to a loss of biodiversity due to the destruction of rain forests to clear land. You’ll find out how animals are handled on factory farms and discover the greener, more humane alternatives. We’ll also talk about seafood, identify which fish populations are getting overfished, and discuss which fish are less safe to eat because of mercury contamination.
Week Six
Wednesday - Lesson 11
It’s time to dive into our lesson on water conservation. Today we’ll discuss why it’s crucial to preserve and protect the freshwater currently being used by millions of species for survival. We’ll explore strategies and products that will help you use water more efficiently in your home. And while it’s important to conserve water, it’s also important to keep tabs on the quality of the water you’re drinking. So we’ll discuss the differences between types of private wells, possible contaminants, and who to go to for a professional test of your water’s quality. We’ll talk about municipal water supplies, too. And then we’ll wrap things up with a look at bottled water—to drink or not to drink?
Friday - Lesson 12
In our final lesson, we’re going to explore how to maintain a lawn in an eco-friendly way, discuss alternatives to growing that traditional strip of green, and talk about how to make your driveway a better friend to the local watershed. We’ll also explore some of the pros and cons of washing your car versus using an eco-friendly car wash. And you’ll learn how to illuminate your garden with eco-friendly lighting fixtures.