Teaching kids to save energy

Nag-free ways to teach your kids about saving energy.

Wed, Dec 24 2008 at 9:36 AM

Yesterday I wrote about the 5 best ways to save energy as a family. Today, I want to take it one step further...because as a mom I know it's one thing to nag your kids about saving energy and quite another to actually teach them about saving energy in a way that will make them want to do it. So with that said, here are the 5 best ways to teach your kids about saving energy.

Energy Report Cards: Help your child give his classroom (or school) an “Energy Report Card.” He can audit the classroom’s energy use and identify energy-efficient improvements.
Light Patrol: Even the youngest children can help you remember to turn the lights off when you leave a room. Make your child responsible for “light patrol” and give her the power to reduce your household’s energy consumption.
The Ribbon Test: On a windy day, give your child a lightweight piece of yarn or ribbon and help him test your windows and doors for leaks. Hold the ribbon near the windowsills or door jamb. If it’s fluttering, you have a leak.
Show Her The Light: If your child is permanently “plugged in” to one electrical device or another, consider giving her a solar powered charger to charge up her laptop, video games, PDA, cell phone, or iPod.
Build A Solar Oven: Check out Recycle Works for instructions on building a solar oven out of a pizza box. Be sure to bake some cookies in it as a reward for your eco-savvy efforts!

Photo by rendan/Flickr

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