Help your kids understand the importance of energy
conservation before, during, and after these activities. While the games may be fun, they are just
games if the kids are not learning the lesson behind them.
Start by asking them if they know where electricity comes
from. You’ll probably get answers
like “plugs” and “power plants” but keep pushing them. When they get stumped or start to lose
focus, tell them that electricity comes from the earth and that the earth can’t
give us energy forever. The reason
we are trying to conserve electricity is so that what we have will last longer. If parents used up all the electricity,
what would be left for the kids when they grow up?
This is, of course, a gross oversimplification, but the
complexities of fossil fuels, renewable sources of energy, and energy
consumption can wait a few years.
If your children are in middle school or older, then measure their
limits of understanding and tailor your release of information to their
abilities. The more they know, the
better they’ll understand, and the greater effort they’ll make.
Appliances (T.V.)
Usage: The
average American household uses 936 Kilowatts of energy a month. 64.7% of the
energy used is from appliances such as computers, televisions, stoves,
toasters, chargers, etc.
How to conserve:
Unplug your chargers (phone, laptop), toasters, and other small appliances when
they’re not in use. They still use electricity when nothing is plugged into
them! Limit your television time an hour less a day to save energy.
Refrigerators
Usage: 14% of all
electricity usage in the American household is from powering refrigerators.
This is the most electricity used by any one appliance.
How to conserve: Make
sure you keep the fridge door closed as often as possible. Also, try not to
overstuff the fridge, because it takes more energy to cool down more food.
Another way to save electricity with your fridge is to let leftovers sit out
until they are completely cool before putting them in the fridge.
Lights
Usage: In the
average American household, lights account for 9% of electricity use.
How to conserve: Turn
off lights every time you leave a room. You can also undo the blinds and use
the natural daylight instead of electric lights to light your home. A lot of
families have saved energy by switching to energy efficient light bulbs, which
not only are more sustainable, but last much longer than regular fluorescent
light bulbs.
Other ways to
conserve energy:
Clean out your vacuum
filter as often as needed. Be sure to turn off the vacuum every time you stop
using it to save power.
Set a reasonable temperature
for air conditioning, be sure to clean out air filter, and turn off at least 1
hour a day.
Activity:
Solar Oven
Have your kids make their very own solar oven using open
faced cardboard boxes, black construction paper, aluminum foil, and plastic
wrap. Using these materials, have them construct a solar oven by utilizing the
heat and sunlight to heat up a snack. For students, make it a contest by
measuring the maximum temperatures in each group’s oven and awarding a prize
for the solar oven that produces the most heat. For ideas, go to
http://www.ecohearth.com/eco-blogs/eco-parenting/995-kids-environmental-diy-make-a-pizza-box-solar-oven.html
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