Teaching kids to save energy at home is helpful any time of year; especially winter. If you teach them to save energy now; it’ll be second nature by the time they’re grown up and paying the power bill on their own. And who knows? Maybe they’ll even grow up to change the world!
Here are five tips to get your kids to start saving energy in the wintertime and every other season of the year, too.
1) Track Your Family’s Usage
One of the best ways to get your kids interested in saving energy is to help them track your family’s usage. Show them how much energy your family uses in a day, week, or month, and help them understand what activities use the most energy.
Explain how turning off lights, unplugging appliances, and using fans instead of air conditioners can make a difference. This will help your child to begin understand that plugging things in costs money and doesn’t just charge your iPad.
2) Make Changes Gradually
Start by making small changes in your home. For example, turning off the lights when you leave a room or unplugging electronics when they’re not in use. Explain to your kids why you’re making these changes and how they can help save energy.
If your kids are old enough, involve them in the decision-making process so they feel invested in saving energy. Then, make a plan to gradually implement other energy-saving measures, like insulating your home or getting solar panels.
You can even turn saving energy into a game or challenge; see who can reduce their energy usage the most. By making gradual changes and involving your kids every step of the way; you can teach them how to save energy and instil lifelong habits of conservation.
3) Educate Yourself as a Family
Start by talking to your kids about why saving energy is important. You can explain that it helps lower your family’s energy bills and impact on the planet. Plus, it also gives your kids a sense of environmental and personal responsibility.
You can also find some great resources online or at your local library to help educate your family about energy efficiency.
4) Set Goals Together
It can be hard to know where to start when beginning on a big journey such as lowering your energy usage. Some families may find it easier to set smaller goals together or even make it into a game to see who remembers the most ways to lower their energy usage and continually remembers to do them.
- Talk about why saving energy is important.
- This can include lowering your family’s energy bills, helping the environment, or even just reducing your impact on the planet.
- Set some goals together as a family.
- This could be something like using less hot water, turning off lights when you leave a room, or unplugging electronics when they’re not in use.
- Explain how you can save energy in simple terms that your kids will understand.
- For example, turning off the lights when you leave a room saves energy because it doesn’t have to work as hard to produce light.
- Help your kids find ways to save energy in their daily routines.
- Such as not charging devices over night, plug them in in the day and turn off the plugs when they are done.
5) Go Solar
Discuss why saving energy is important. No matter what the case, explain it to your children in a way they can understand. Perhaps your family is trying to save money on your monthly utility bills. Perhaps you want to help the planet by using less energy from fossil fuels.
Secondly, lead by example. Leaving the lights on in empty rooms or leaving the fridge door open will encourage your kids to pick up on that. Show them how simple it can be to save energy by just making a few simple changes in your daily routine.
Going solar doesn’t have to be a drastic change to yours and your families lives. Speak to your energy supplier today to see what they offer for families looking to become more energy efficient.
Want to learn more?
Do you want to learn more about how you and your family can become more energy efficient and do your bit for the environment?
Contact GEC today to begin your journey of lowering your carbon footprint and saving on your energy bills!