Going Green in New Orleans
Article
AP Photo/Bill Haber
New Orleans is being built again in a "green" way.
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (Achieve3000, February 4, 2009). New Orleans was destroyed in 2005
by Hurricane Katrina. Now, many parts of the city are being rebuilt. In doing this, the city is "going
green." It is being built in environmentally friendly ways. They are also using solar panels. The city has
even bought hybrid buses.
Going green is a big change for New Orleans. This city once had a reputation for being
environmentally unfriendly. Before Katrina, government leaders rarely talked about green building
practices. They hardly ever talked about green energy.
Now, however, people are making over the city. They're also making over its reputation.
New Orleans is becoming environmentally friendly in several ways. Organic farming is becoming more
popular in the city. New bicycle lanes are being planned. There is also new interest in helping habitats
and wetlands. These areas had once protected New Orleans from damaging storms.
At the same time, New Orleans is saving energy. New homes are being built in the city. Many are being
fitted with solar panels. The Lower 9th Ward is one part of the city. It was hit particularly hard by
Katrina. There, some 20 energy-saving homes are using the environmentally friendly technology.
"I never knew [anything] about solar panels until after the storm," said Mable Howard. Howard's home
was flooded after Hurricane Katrina. Solar panels were then given to her and put in for free. Now,
Howard's electric bill is lower. During some months, the panels cut her bill by more than half.
The city's growing interest in solar panels is driven in part by the government. It allows homeowners to
spend as little as $5,000. In return, they receive about $25,000 worth of solar materials.
The government encourages the city's interest in solar materials in another way. In 2007, the U.S.
Energy Department gave the city an award. It named the city one of about two dozen "Solar American
Cities." This award included $450,000. In return for the funding, the city agreed to include solar
programs in its energy plans. The city also agreed to encourage the use of solar materials.
New Orleans is starting new solar energy programs. The city is also starting to use other green energy
practices. The city bought 39 new hybrid buses. These buses are environmentally friendly. They use
electric power as well as gas. The city also agreed to a new energy program. This program will help
2,800 homes a year. It will help them use less energy.
New Orleans' work to save energy could pay off for the city in more ways than one. The city
will save money on energy. It may also make money. It might do this by taking part in "cap-and-trade"
energy programs. These programs are aimed at lowering pollution. In the programs, companies'
pollution will be "capped." They will receive pollution credits. These credits say how much pollution
the companies can put into the air. Companies that need more must buy credits from companies that
have extra. New Orleans is trying to save a great deal of energy. Therefore, its power companies may
have extra credits. These credits can be offered up for sale.
Information for this story came from AP.
Dictionary
hybrid (adjective) having a battery-powered electric motor as well as a gas engine;
the purpose of this is to lower gas use
organic (adjective) avoiding man-made bug killers and like materials; using only
natural ones
reputation (noun) what is said or believed about a person or thing
solar panel (noun) a large sheet that takes in sunlight and makes it into electricity
burgeoning (adjective) growing or expanding rapidly
decimate (verb) to destroy a large proportion of something
impede (verb) to hinder
watershed (adjective) relating to a critical period or event that marks a change
or division; turning point
1.
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Which fits best in the empty box above?
New Orleans is becoming environmentally friendly in many ways.
New Orleans is taking part in "cap-and-trade" energy programs.
New Orleans once had wetlands to protect it from storm damage.
New Orleans got a $450,000 grant from the U.S. Energy Department.
2. The article states:
This city once had a reputation for being environmentally unfriendly. Before Katrina,
government leaders rarely talked about green building practices. They hardly ever talked
about green energy.
The author uses these sentences mostly to help the reader to understand _________.
Why New Orleans didn't follow green building practices
Why going green is such a big change for New Orleans
How many cities have a reputation for being unfriendly
How many of the city's leaders were against green energy
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3. The news article says all of the following except __________.
The Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina.
New Orleans passed a law forcing all companies to switch to solar power.
New Orleans hopes to make money from "cap-and-trade" energy programs.
The U.S. Energy Department named New Orleans a "Solar American City."
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4. The article states:
Before Katrina, government leaders rarely talked about green building practices.
Which would be the closest antonym for the word rarely?
Almost
Quickly
Really
Often
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5. According to the article, why did parts of New Orleans have to be built again?
Because it was given $450,000 by the government
Because it was never thought of as a "green" city
Because it was named a "Solar American City"
Because it was hit by a Hurricane Katrina in 2005
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6. Suppose you were writing a summary of the article. Which of these would not be important to put in the
summary?
Mable Howard is one citizen of New Orleans.
New Orleans is "going green" in several different ways.
New Orleans has bought hybrid buses that help the city save energy.
Many homes in New Orleans are being fitted with solar panels.
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7. Which of these is an opinion?
New Orleans was named a "Solar American City."
"Cap-and-trade" energy programs are aimed at lowering pollution.
Many new homes in the city are being fitted with solar panels.
Other cities should "go green" like New Orleans has.
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8. The article states:
It was hit particularly hard by Katrina.
Which would be the closest synonym for the word particularly?
Especially
Conveniently
Instantly
Dangerously
Show your work for both questions
The city of New Orleans received a group of 39 hybrid buses. If each bus has four tires, how many tires are
in the entire group of buses?
144 tires
126 tires
156 tires
133 tires
A solar-powered parking meter charges $2.50 per hour. If a motorist plugs the meter with six quarters, how
long can the person park at the meter? Assume that the cost of the meter is proportional to the time allowed
at the meter.
1 hour = 60 minutes; 1 dollar = 100 cents
15 minutes
42 minutes
36 minutes
30 minutes
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What is this article mainly about?
New Orleans is being rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina's destruction using environmentally friendly
methods.
New Orleans purchased a fleet of hybrid buses that run on a mix of biodiesel, gasoline, and electric
power.
New Orleans received state and federal tax credits that give homeowners financial incentives to install
solar power.
New Orleans had wetlands in the past that protected the Louisiana city from destructive storm surges.
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2. In the sixth paragraph, the author tells the experience of one New Orleans resident in order to
__________.
Determine the reason why Mable Howard received solar panels for her home for free
Explain the process by which solar panels are installed in order to reduce electric bills
Emphasize the amount of energy and money saved by installing solar panels in one home
Describe the life of an 80-year-old doll maker whose house was flooded by Katrina
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3. Which information is not in the article?
The reason why New Orleans officials rarely discussed recycling prior to Katrina
The number of new hybrid buses obtained by the city of New Orleans after Katrina
The number of homes being rebuilt with solar panels in the Lower 9th Ward
The reason why oil and timber companies are trying to thwart wetland restoration efforts
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4. The article states:
New Orleans is working to become environmentally friendly in a variety of ways. Urban
organic farming is gaining momentum in the city.
Which would be the closest synonym for the word momentum?
Contortion
Equilibrium
Impetus
Dilemma
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5. What cause and effect relationship is described in this article?
New Orleans was named one of the "Solar American Cities" because it is expected to have many extra
carbon credits to sell.
New Orleans is blending biodiesel, gasoline, and electric power to run its hybrid buses because it wants
to purchase carbon credits.
Storm-ravaged neighborhoods and businesses are installing solar-powered parking meters because they
want to compete with hybrid buses.
Timber and oil companies are trying to stop wetlands restoration efforts because wetlands lie in the
path of canals used to transport those resources.
6. Which best summarizes that second-to-last paragraph of the article?
New Orleans is just one of many other cities across the country that is starting to participate in "capand-trade" programs.
New Orleans is participating in a "cap-and-trade" program, which provides economic incentives for
achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants.
"Cap-and-trade" programs limit the total amount of pollutants that companies are allowed to emit into
the atmosphere.
Companies that exceed their caps for carbon emissions must purchase carbon credits from other
companies that have a surplus of credits.
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7. Which of these is a statement of opinion?
New Orleans should make every effort right now to restore its wetlands to insure some future storm
protection.
New Orleans was awarded $450,000 in grants by the U.S. Energy Department after agreeing to
incorporate solar programs.
The Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans suffered extensive damage when Hurricane Katrina slammed into
the city in 2005.
The credits given to homeowners enable them to spend as little as $5,000 for approximately $25,000
worth of solar technology.
8. Which is the closest synonym for the word decimate?
Thwart
Annihilate
Embellish
Rupture
New Orleans has been described as a "green" city. Choose four other words that might
describe New Orleans today. Explain why you chose each word.
Use ideas from the article to help explain your choices. Use your own ideas, as well.
Write your answer in your spiral. Remember to add the title and the date.