Saving energy doesn’t have to be complicated or difficult. And, although there are certainly big projects to help you save energy there are also many small things you and, yes, even your kids can do at home in order to save energy. It is important to teach kids how to save energy and giving them a hand in doing so will give them a sense of responsibility and accomplishment.
The things your kids can do to help save energy cover areas from hot water usage to window coverings. Here are 10 tips on saving energy that are easy to do and kid friendly.
It takes a lot of energy to heat water so reducing hot water usage in turn saves energy. Have your kids take tub baths instead long showers. Be sure to fill the tub with only enough water to do the job. It is not necessary to fill a bath tub to capacity in order to take a bath. Kids can also help to reduce hot water usage by washing small amounts of dishes by hand and only using the dishwasher when there is a large load of dirty dishes. Always fill the dishwasher to capacity. Remember, it uses the same amount of hot water to wash 6 dishes as it does to wash 20. Be sure it is full.
Likewise, have your kids do the same with the clothes washer. Use the warm water setting instead of the hot setting and only wash full loads of clothes. Hang clothes to dry when possible to reduce the use of the dryer. Remember, if it heats up it uses a lot of energy.
Kids should be taught, trained might be a better word, to turn off lights when leaving a room. If they use chargers for cell phones or IPods be sure they unplug them when not in use. Any child old enough to use a computer is also old enough to shut it down when not in use. Computers use energy even when they are in stand-by mode. Teach your kids to turn them off. Have them do the same with other electronics like TV’s and game systems too.
Keeping the refrigerator door closed also helps to save energy. No more standing undecided in front of the open fridge. Teach your kids also to close the front door too. Explain that leaving the door open longer then it takes to step through it puts strain on the A/C in the summer and the heater in the winter. It allows precious cool or warm air to escape.
Give young kids the job of checking to make sure all windows are tightly closed and teach them to keep drapes and blinds drawn. It may not sound like much but it makes a huge difference in how warm or cool a room gets.
In the case of saving energy little things mean a lot. It all adds up to less energy used. So, teach your children well.
