Energy Conservation Tips That Stick with Your Kids Energy Conservation Tips That Stick with Your Kids
Since children are very impressionable, it is important to teach them at a young age about energy conservation. However you may feel about the prospect of climate change and its causes, one issue that is beyond discussion is the need to use energy more wisely. It is not to say that people must learn to go without; rather, it is a matter of learning why it is too important to waste. Talking to your kids about energy conservation and teaching them positive habits will take the issue into the next generation. If habits are formed early, they will stick with them. Children can learn to waste energy or they can learn how to conserve it. The choice lies with their parents and guardians.
Energy Conservation Tips
Tips on little things one can learn to help conserve energy are good for people of any age, but children have a special way of soaking up information and implementing it, whether they know it or not. These tips have nothing to do with solar or wind power installation at the home or anything technical. They are simply small steps people can take that make a difference. Though they help to conserve only small amounts of energy, when taken as a whole—if many people are doing it—it makes a big impact.
One of the easiest habits for children to get into is turning off lights when they are not in use. There is no need for a home to have a light on in every room, especially when only half of them are being used. Teach your kids to get in the habit of turning off a light as they leave the room. Whether in the bathroom, kitchen, bedroom or elsewhere, turning off the light is a small step to take that can have a larger effect on energy use as a whole.
Computers and Electronics
Computers and other electronics like plasma screen TVs, when left on throughout the day, use more than their fair share of energy. Although it is nice to be able to jump on the Internet whenever you wish, if you are not using the computer, turn it off. Rather than let it sit in hibernation mode (which still uses energy), turn off the power and save energy. TVs, stereos and video game systems should also be turned off when not in use.
Shades and Blinds
Another way to conserve energy is the use of shades and blinds. In the summertime, keeping them drawn helps keep warm air from entering the house, while in the winter it keeps the warm air in. It won’t stop all air leaks, but it lets you use the furnace or air conditioner less.
Control of the heat and air conditioning system is done with the thermostat. Get your kids in the habit of turning it down at night and keeping the house moderately warm during the cold days. Some houses are colder than others, but there is no reason why a home should be kept at 85 degrees throughout the winter. Teach your children sensible thermostat use and to put on a sweater if they are chilly.
Teach your children how to use appliances and conserve energy. There are better times to run the dishwasher, washer and dryer that the peak energy use hours. Rather than use the dishwasher, get them in the habit of quickly washing their dish rather than load up the dishwasher.
There are a great many habits you can get your children into that will teach them how to conserve energy. It is not about using no energy, just using less. If your children see you do certain things to conserve energy, they will internalize the habits and continue them when they are adults.