Taking steps to conserve energy doesn’t require any major lifestyle changes. It doesn’t even take a lot of effort. What it can do is benefit you and your family greatly.
Why should you talk with your kids about ways to conserve energy and other resources?
For one, it could save you a significant amount of money. For another, conserving energy and resources means a better, healthier world for everyone to enjoy.
Taking steps to conserve energy doesn’t require any major lifestyle changes. It doesn’t even take a lot of effort. What it can do is benefit you and your family greatly.
Here are some easy ways kids can do their part and help keep your energy costs down at home, courtesy of Longmont Power & Communication.
Watch out for energy vampires
Video game consoles, TVs, and cable boxes all draw power even while on standby. If you plug these devices into a single power strip, you can turn them all off with one switch and save energy. Just be careful not to plug too many devices into one strip and create a safety hazard.
Close the refrigerator door
Want a cold snack? Get it quickly if you can. Avoid standing with the fridge door open for too long. Leaving the refrigerator or freezer door open while you browse means your fridge will require more power to keep things cool.
Air-conditioning tips
When it gets really hot outside, close your curtains. Your air conditioning won’t have to work quite as hard to keep things cool.
Also, when leaving the house for a while, have a grown-up turn the air conditioner control up a few degrees. This will keep your air conditioner from working too hard while you’re gone.
Bike or walk to school
Cars use a lot of gas and can produce a lot of emissions. Older students walking or biking to school can help parents save on gas and emit fewer emissions into the air. It’s also great exercise!
Choose showers over baths
One bath can use around 25 gallons of water. A shower uses 3.5 times less water and takes less energy to heat. A quick shower can conserve both water and energy while still keeping you squeaky clean.
Cook outdoors
There’s nothing like a summer barbecue. On a hot day, see if your parents want to grill outside instead of using the oven.
Other great “green” tips
Energy-saving options are everywhere. Here are a few more quick ones you can use to help cut down your costs and help out the planet.
- Air dry clothes
- Turn off room lights when not in use
- Use refillable water bottles
- Recycle whenever possible
What are some useful tips you’ve found? Share your ideas with family and friends, and, together, everyone can do their part to reduce waste and conserve precious resources.
Energy-Saving resources
- Boulder County Environmental Sustainability Plan
bouldercounty.gov/environment/sustainability/sustainability-plan - Boulder County EnergySmart
bouldercounty.gov/environment/sustainability/energy-smart - Energy Saving Family Checklist (Green Child Magazine)
www.greenchildmagazine.com/teach-kids-to-save-energy-checklist/ - Home Energy Conservation For Kids (HomeAdvisor)
homeadvisor.com/r/home-energy-conservation-for-kids - Longmont Power and Communications
longmontcolorado.gov/departments/departments-e-m/longmont-power-communications
By John Teehan for Raised in the Rockies
