Think 

Globally, 

Teach 

Locally

Resources for 

Environmental 

Awareness

January 19, 2022
Disclaimer

Any content or opinions 

expressed in this 

webinar are not that of 

the U.S. Department of 

Education nor an 

endorsement of any 

persons, products, 

programs, or policies 

mentioned herein.
ED.GOV/STEM

Grants

Newsletter

Webinars

Resources

Andrea Falken
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 

EDUCATION’S ROLE IN 

GREEN SCHOOLSAND 

ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING
WHAT IS U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 

EDUCATION GREEN RIBBON SCHOOLS?
Three Pillars

Environmental Impact and 

Costs

Health and Wellness

Effective Environmental & 

Sustainability Education
Nominees 

Selected in 

States

Interested schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions 

must be nominated by their state education authorities 

Up to 5 schools or districts and 1 postsecondary institution

Provisions for disadvantaged, private, charter, magnet, early 

learning, postsecondary, and district applicants.
Timeframe

•

•

•

•

Application to state 

agency in Fall/ Winter 

State nominates to ED 

by Feb. 2022

ED announces national 

honorees on Earth Day

ED invites honorees to 

ceremony in summer
Common 

misconceptions

Certification, 

grant, or 

compliance 

mechanism

Cumbersome 

federal application

All states 

participate
THE GREEN STRIDES TOUR
NEW 

CLIMATE 

ACTION 

LEADERSHIP
RESOURCES FOR ALL TO ADVANCE: 

GREEN STRIDES.ORG

Melissa Payne Rebecca Dodder

Emma Revfem

Sarah Matthews

Sania W. Tong Argao Michael Band

Melissa Anley-Mills
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

AIR QUALITY FLAG PROGRAM

Know the Air Quality 

Forecast and Protect 

Your Health 

Department of Education 

Webinar

2022
HISTORY

• EPA started national program in 2010

• Now open to all organizations

• Over 1700 participants, plus Regions, States, Tribes, and 

local orgs, reaches 7-8 million people
FLAG PROGRAM: FOUR STEPS

1. Purchase or create flags

2. Educate and inform the community

3. Check the air quality forecast each day and fly 

the corresponding flag color

4. Follow the recommendations for outdoor activities 
1. PURCHASE FLAGS

AQFP does not provide flags, but Federal, state, tribal agencies and 

educational institutions can order flags through GSA for a reduced cost
2. EDUCATE AND INFORM

21
3. CHECK THE AIR QUALITY FORECAST

• Download the free AirNow APP 

• Install the WIDGET on homepage 

• Enter your Zip Code on the flag website

• Subscribe to ENVIROFLASH
4. OUTDOOR ACTIVITY GUIDANCE

Go for 60!

CDC recommends that 

children get 60 or more 

minutes of physical 

activity each day.
FLAG PROGRAM WEBSITE

• English and Spanish

• Online Registration

• Quick Start guide

• Coordinator’s Handbook 

• Story Map

• Activity Guidelines 

• Teacher/student resources

• Participating organizations

www.airnow.gov/flag

AQFP CONTACTS

Flag Team Contacts

Melissa Payne (Program Lead): payne.melissa@epa.gov

Ellen Wildermann: wildermann.ellen@epa.gov

Beth Landis: landis.elizabeth@epa.gov

Sarah Matthews: matthews.sarah@epa.gov

Rachel McIntosh-Kastrinsky mcintoshkastrinsky.rachel@epa.gov
Welcome to 

GENERATE: The Game of Energy Choices

Think Globally, Act Locally | January 19, 2022 

Rebecca Dodder, U.S. EPA & Emma Refvem, Durham Public Schools

Disclaimer: The game and associated materials were developed in support of education and outreach, and do not represent official U.S. EPA opinion 

or policies. This document has been reviewed in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency policy and approved for publication. 
Energy 101: The big picture

• Primary energy resources

• Fossil: coal, natural gas, petroleum

• Non-fossil, non-renewable: uranium

• Renewable: wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, biomass

• Technologies to convert primary resources to 

useable energy like electricity, gasoline, ...

• Petroleum Refineries

• Electric Power Generation

• End-use sectors

• Residential

• Commercial

• Industrial 

• Transportation

• Energy services – What do people actually need and want? Mobility (vehicle miles of travel) 

or accessibility (accessing education, work, shopping), lighting (lumens of light), comfort (space 

heating and cooling). Energy is a “derived demand”
Energy and our environment: why it matters

Energy-system related impacts

Air pollutants

Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) 

Carbon monoxide (CO)

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) 

Particulate Matter (PM)

...more

Greenhouse gases 

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Methane (CH4)

Nitrous oxide (N2O)

Black carbon and short-lived climate forcers

Water use 

~40% of total water withdrawals
Snapshot of Generate

• Teams get a grid and a mix of energy pieces

• Each piece has costs and emissions

• Teams compete to get the total lowest cost

• Each round presents new challenges (carbon 

price) and opportunities (more renewables, 

efficiency options)

“It was cool, 

funny and 

angering at 

times!” 6th grader

“This is the best science board game EVER!” 

6th grader
Preview of mobility game

• Each student is set up with: 

• Career with salary

• Location with cost of living

• One of nine “commute cards” for VMT 

• They then choose from 18 vehicles 

• Range of vehicle classes, costs,

efficiencies, emissions, new/used.

• Gasoline, hybrid, PHEV, BEV

• Five non POV mobility options subway, 

bus (suburban), walk/bike, carpool

• Students calculate and compare transportation costs and emissions 

• As a team they negotiate to lower team-wide CO2 emissions

• Additional rounds introduce “give and take” cards

“Do adults do these calculations 

when they buy a car?”

“Can I take 

this worksheet 

with me?”
Types of energy pieces

FOSSIL ENERGY

NUCLEAR ENERGY

BIO-BASED ENERGY

RENEWABLE ENERGY

ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Round 1: Parts of the energy pieces

Type:

What primary 

energy resource 

does it use?

Size: 

How much energy does it produce?

Purchase Cost:

How much does it 

cost up front to 

build/purchase?

AQ Impacts: 

How much air 

pollution is 

produced? 

Scale of 0-3

CO2 emissions:

How much CO2 does it 

produce each year?

Annual Cost:

How much does it 

cost each year to 

run/operate?

Cost per piece = 63 + (7 x 30)

= 273

Lifetime: All energy pieces will last 30 years

Round 1: Cost per piece = Purchase cost + (Annual Cost x 30)
Let’s play!

• Each team has a different energy mix to 

from which to choose

• Goal is to fill the energy grid at the 

lowest cost 

• Team Jobs: Cost Control, Timekeeper, 

Recorder (of type and number of each 

piece used)

• If playing virtually, facilitators will share 

your team Jamboard link in your room 

and move pieces

• Students – Be sure to unmute your mics 

and participate actively 
Live demonstration on Jamboard
Round 2: CO2 price + more renewables

AQ Impacts: 

How much air 

pollution is 

produced? 

Scale of 0-3

CO2 emissions:

How much CO2 does it 

produce each year?

Cost per piece = 63 + (7 x 30) 

+ (1.2 x 1 x 30)

= 309

Lifetime: All energy pieces will last 30 years

CO2 price = 1

Round 2: 

Cost per piece = Purchase cost + (Annual Cost x 30) + (CO2 emissions x CO2 price x 30) 
All materials available online 
How Teachers Use the Game

• Article in The Science Teacher –

July/August 2021

• Students are more engaged

• Provides a break to the routine

• Simplifies a complex topic

• Students make nuanced 

connections to real-world issues
Additional information

• Generate materials available at: www.epa.gov/air-research/airquality-and-energy-choice-stem-activities-educators

• Mobility game: materials under development and will be pending 

review and clearance

Companies Crushing Pollution” Video Challenge
Registration each September

Entries due early December

Winners Announced each Spring

With Prizes totaling $30,000 

Share amongst to 1st and 2nd place winners (Student and Faculty Prizes)

For more information: https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/campusrainworks-challenge-0
EPA’s Prize and Challenge Site:

https://www.epa.gov/innovation/epa-challenges-prizes

Subscribe to the EPA challenge & prize competition 

email list to stay up-to-date on the latest news.

Questions about Challenges:

Please contact us at Innovation@epa.gov
EJ Video Challenge for Students

44

Presented by: 

Sania W. Tong Argao

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Office of Research and Development (ORD)

U.S. Department of Education STEM Webinar

January 19, 2022

1:30 - 3:00 PM ET
What’s the issue?

• Many communities face greater 

environmental exposures and public health 

risks due to a history of inequitable 

environmental policies and access to the 

decision-making process.

– Many lower-income or minority 

communities are located near industrial 

plants or waste disposal sites resulting 

in reduced air or water quality.

– These communities may contain older 

and unsafe homes with lead-based 

paint, exposures to mold, or exposures 

to other hazards that put residents at 

higher risk of health problems.

45
What is environmental justice?

• Environmental justice 

(EJ) is the fair treatment 

and meaningful 

involvement of all 

people regardless of 

race, color, national 

origin, or income, with 

respect to the 

development, implement

ation, and enforcement 

of environmental laws, 

regulations, and policies.

46
Identifying the EJ Issue(s)

• Multiple EJ concerns can affect a community

• Communities with EJ concerns may need help 

identifying what issues they may be facing

• Knowing what EJ issues are affecting a community 

is empowering

47
Publicly Available Tools & Data

48

Toxics 

Release 

Inventory

• Publicly available tools and data exist that can help 

communities identify or characterize EJ issues in their 

community.

• These tools and data can also be used to come up with 

strategies to address identified EJ issues.
The Challenge!

Use data and publicly available tools to identify 

and address EJ issues in your community!

49

 Inspire students at accredited colleges and universities in the 

United States and its territories to work directly with 

communities in the identification and characterization of EJ 

challenges using data and publicly available tools, and

 Help communities (including residents and other 

stakeholders) address EJ challenges and/or vulnerabilities to 

environmental and public health hazards using data and 

publicly available tools. 

Enhance Communities’ Capacity to

Address Environmental Inequities using Data and Tools 
Co-Sponsors

Federal Co-Sponsor

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Office of 

Research and Development (EPA/ORD)

Non-Federal Co-Sponsors

• American Public Health Association (APHA)

• Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities 

– Network (EPIC-N)

• Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)

• Environmental Justice (peer-reviewed journal)

• Groundwork USA

50
EJ Video Challenge Phases

Phase 1: Create a video to demonstrate innovative approaches to 

identify and characterize an EJ issue(s) in a select community using 

data and publicly available tools. 

Phase 2*: Develop a video to display how students used data and 

publicly available tools to identify strategies and opportunities to 

address an identified EJ issue(s) and worked with a community-based 

organization(s) to inform strategies for intervention and/or facilitated 

effective community engagement and advocacy on the EJ issue(s).

*NOTE: Details for Phase 2 will be provided prior to the launch of Phase 2, 

which is tentatively scheduled to start in August 2022.

Visit EJ Video Challenge: Tools and Data Resources to view example tools that may be 

useful for the Challenge. 51
Prizes

• Prizes – Phase 1

(For Students)

– (1) First Place Prize of $20,000

– (1) Second Place Prize of

$12,000

– (1) Third Place Prize of $6,000

– Up to (7) Honorable Mention

Prizes of $1,000 each

• Prizes – Phase 2

– To be announced at a later

date.

52

• Non-Monetary Awards – Phase 1

– Winning videos will be posted on EPA’s

EJ Video Challenge for Students

webpage.

– Winning videos will be shared on EPA

social media channels and

communications.

– If a tool developed by EPA's Office of

Research and Development was used,

winners and their community

organization partner(s) will have the

opportunity to speak with a team

member for that tool for Phase 2.

– Challenge winners will have an

opportunity to submit an article for

publication (subject to the journal’s formal

review/acceptance process) in

Environmental Justice.
Important Dates – Phase 1

53

Phase 1 Event Date

Phase 1 Opens November 2, 2021

Informational Webinar December 6, 2021 @12 p.m. ET

Phase 1 Submissions Due April 1, 2022 by 11:59 PM EST

Phase 1 Winners Announced June 2022

Note: Phase 2 dates will be announced at a later date.
Questions?

54

Website for the Challenge:

https://www.epa.gov/innovation/environmental-justicevideo-challenge-students

Questions:

Please contact us at EJVideoChallenge@epa.gov.

Social Media:

#EJVideoChallenge
EPA’s Office of 

Environmental Education 

Resources

Michael Band, Education Grant Specialist 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
OEE’s Award Programs 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 56

• OEE Currently OEE currently runs two Award Programs, one recognizing students and 

another recognizing educators 
How to Apply 

Apply for the President's 

Environmental Youth Award

Applications are due February 18, 

2022

Presidential Innovation Award for 

Environmental Educators

Applications are due February 18, 

2022

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 57
Environmental Education Resources

https://www.epa.gov/students

• Homework Resources 

• Lessons Plans 

• Teacher Guides 

• Games 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 58
A Closer Look at https://www.epa.gov/students

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 59
Key Features 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 60
Stay Up-To-Date on OEE News! 

Subscribe to the Office of Environmental Education listserv on 

https://www.epa.gov/education

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 61

Twitter @EPAresearch

Facebook @EPAresearch
https://iee.nmsu.edu/2022

-tasks-faqs https://www.epa.gov/enviroatlas/enviroatlaseducational-materials
Thank you!

Additional Resources Mentioned in the Q &A 

Executive Order 14008 Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad

(EPA’s) National Environmental Justice Advisory Council

Recommendations: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-

05/documents/whiteh2.pdf

Funding opportunity Improving Public Health Data Systems to Address Health 

Equity Challenges for At-Risk Communities in the U.S. Gulf Coast,: 

https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/funding-opportunityimproving-public-health-data-systems-to-address-health-equity-challengesfor-at-risk-communities-in-the-us-gulf-coast

EPA P3 program: www.epa.gov/p3