The first game I came across was called the Climate Change Pentathlon, offered by the Lift the Label campaign on the youth site of the Tearfund. According to their Web site, the
Tearfund's mission is "a Christian relief and development agency working with a global network of local churches to help eradicate poverty." Lift the Label is Tearfund's ethical lifestyle campaign, which aims "to help us think about how our consumer choices in the areas of food, fashion, and finance impact the lives of some of the poorest people in the world." Per the name, the pentathlon offers five different games, each based on earth-friendly living habits and practices. The names of the play games online are "Lights Out," "Sorted," "On Your Bike," "Cool, Clean, and Green," and "Greenhouse." Before each game is a brief introduction is offered about how to play the game, and why to play the game (you can skip this if you prefer).
The challenge of "Lights Out" is see how many lights you can turn off by clicking on the empty rooms and desks of the animated office. In this game you look down on an office space consisting of a bathroom, kitchen, conference room, lounge, and cubicles. Figures move from room to room, and it's your job to turn the lights off when they leave their room or cubicle. (You can't turn the lights off on people in the rooms-I tried.) Before each game begins, a quick fact is given; for "Lights Out" this is: "Leaving an office light on overnight wastes enough energy to heat 1,000 cups of tea."
"Sorted" is in my opinion the most challenging of the games. Recyclables (a metal can, plastic soda bottle, newspaper, and banana peel) fall from the sky, and it's your job to catch them in the correct recycling bin (metal, plastic, paper, and food) before they hit the ground. The recyclables fall faster as the game progresses.
"On Your Bike" is the simplest of the five. You use the right and left arrow keys on your keyboard to make the animated man peddle on his bike. Your challenge is to maintain a practical speed to achieve the highest points. This game encourages bike use, especially when a high percentage of vehicle use is to places less than two miles away.
"Cool, Clean, and Green" is a game about setting your washing machine at a lower time, time, temperature, and spin cycle to save energy. As the dials for these three settings begin to spin, you have to hit the space bar when the dial reaches the preferred setting, which is marked by a green arrow. The dial spins pretty fast, so the game isn't as simple as it sounds.
Finally, "Greenhouse" is another time challenge free games . In this game you click and drag energy saving tools and appliances, such as efficient refrigerators and lightbulbs, solar panels, and insulation, etc., into their correct room in the house. Some of the products have more than one that needs to be installed. I have played this game a few times now and have yet to get all of the products into the house.
