This game tests your knowledge of how consumer choices affect the environment. As you answer questions and 'shop green' the Envirometer gauges the cumulative impact of your choices. The centerpoint on the Envirometer represents the impact of an average American household -- at the end of the game you can compare this average to your own impact on air quality, water quality, natural habitats, and the sustainability of our climate.
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Oh, I get it. Now let's get back to the game.
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SETTING UP JAVA
Java for Macs
Java and Internet Explorer | Java and Netscape
Java for PCs
Java and Internet Explorer | Java and Netscape
QUESTIONS
Why am I getting a gray screen?
Why do I get a system error when trying to start the game?
Why does the game appear to be crashing?
When I am at work, why does the game not start?
Why do I see a black screen and an error message in the game window?
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Stop already! Let's play.
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Java for Macs
Java on Macintosh computers is the same as any other software in that there are many different versions. To be fully compliant we recommend the Mac OS Runtime for Java (MRJ) version 2.0 or higher.
Minimum system requirements for MRJ 2.0. Version 2.0 runs on Mac OS 8.0 or 8.1. It requires at least 8 MB of available RAM after your web browser is launched, and at least 30 MB of available disk space. MRJ 2.0 may be installed on System 7.6.1 by doing a Custom Install and choosing the software components appropriate for that system.
Configuring Java in Internet Explorer for Macs
To configure Internet Explorer to use MRJ so that you can run Java applets, first use the "Preferences" command in the Internet Explorer "Edit" menu to bring up the Internet Explorer "Preferences" dialog. Click the triangle next to "Web Browser" in the box on the left side of the dialog to disclose its subcategories. Then click the "Java" subcategory to see the Java Options pane on the right side of the dialog as shown below.
From here you can select to enable Java and select which Java virtual machine to use. If Applet MRJ is not available, the installer can be downloaded from the Apple Software Updates site. Once installed it can then be configured to work with Internet Explorer as outlined above.
Configuring Java in Netscape for Macs
Configuring Java in Netscape Navigator for the Macintosh is similar to the way it's done on the PC. To configure Java in Netscape 4.06 and higher, select the "Preferences" option from the "Edit" menu in Netscape Navigator. This will bring up the Netscape Preferences dialog box. On the "Category" section of this dialog box select the "Advanced" category to display the Java options settings. To enable Java, check the setting for "Enable Java" on the right side. This comes as the default setting for Netscape and will only need to be changed if the Java Virtual Machine has not been installed.
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Take me back to the game.
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Java for IBM PCs and Compatibles
There are several options available for running applets on PCs and compatible computers. The two most popular are the Java Virtual Machines that come with Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer. To run the Great Green Web Game either Netscape Navigator 4.06 and higher or Internet Explorer 4.0 and higher is needed.
Configuring Java in Internet Explorer
The Microsoft Virtual Machine comes pre-configured in Internet Explorer 4.0 and higher and does not require any modification.
Configuring Java in Netscape
To configure Java in Netscape 4.06 and higher, select the "Preferences" option from the "Edit" menu in Netscape Navigator. This will bring up the Netscape Preferences dialog box. On the "Category" section of this dialog box select the "Advanced" category to display the Java options as shown below.
To enable Java, check the check box for "Enable Java" on the right side. This comes as the default setting for Netscape so it will rarely need to be modified.
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Now let's play!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I am getting a gray screen?We have all downloaded software from the Internet and experienced slow connections. A blank screen when starting the game could indicate a bad connection between you and the server. Try shutting down the applet and trying again.
Another cause of a blank screen would be lack of system resources. Shut down applications you are not using and try running the game again. Also, trying clearing out your cache to potentially free up resources.
See Requirements for Java on Macintosh Computers for more information if you are a Mac user.
Why do I get an error when trying to start the game?
The most likely cause is that you have not installed Apple MRJ (MacOS Runtime for Java - Apple's implementation of a Java Virtual Machine). By default, when installing Internet Explorer 4.0.1 (either from Microsoft's standalone installer or via the Mac OS 8.5 installer), the preference is set for Internet Explorer to use Apple MRJ. If the Apple MRJ software has not been installed, any time you visit a web site that contains Java you will receive this error message.
See Configuring Java in Internet Explorer
Why does the game appear to be crashing?Running Java on a Macintosh does require system resources, and running the game does require additional resources. Try shutting down any applications that are not in use. When resources get low you may see slow redraws of graphics or none at all. Very low system resources can also create a problem within your Java Virtual Machine. This may cause symptoms of a crash.
See Macintosh Java System Requirements
When I am at work, why does the game not start?Check with your system administrator. Your connection may go through a firewall or proxy server. The servers may be limiting your ability to download the game. Also, check with your administrator to make sure your browser is correctly configured.
Why do I see a black screen and an error in the game window?This error is built into the game and indicates that a graphic image has failed to load. The error screen was added to address an issue where packet loss could cause graphics to not load correctly and thus not be visible in the game. Reloading the game will initiate another attempt to load the graphics.
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Is it too late to play?
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