Hi Folks,
Most of you reading this blog are seniors so this article on saving energy for kids is not specifically directed to you but there are many things you can do to help teach your grandkids and the neighbors children about saving energy. One is to print this article and pass it along to their parents.
It is very important that we all learn how to conserve energy and it is very important to teach it to our children.
Woody
Teaching Your Kids to be Energy Efficient
Saving energy and saving money should not be your sole responsibility as parents and grandparents. Your kids must also learn to help in keeping the electric bills down. This way, your effort will not be wasted and at the same time, your kids will learn good values while growing up.
Because teaching your kids to be energy efficient requires some effort, here are some easy to follow suggestions you can do:
Education
Teaching your kids the importance of saving energy should be your first goal. Take note that making them understand the value of being energy efficient is more effective than telling them ways to save energy and leaving it at that. Teach them how conserving energy helps the environment. Tell them stories or read educational books about the importance of saving energy.
Lead by example
You know that kids tend to follow what elders do so practice what you preach. You may have listed and posted a litany of things-to-do to conserve energy but if you don’t follow them yourself, you cannot expect your kids to. Do not just tell them to turn the lights off before leaving their room; show them by always turning the lights off when you leave a room in your house. Education and leading by example are a good combination if you want to make good habits stick.
Make it fun
Find educational materials where your kids will learn the value of conserving energy as well as ways to save it. Computer software, educational websites, books and television shows that educate and entertain kids would really make a difference on how well they will respond. This is especially applicable to kids from 5 to 10 years old.
Get your kids involved
Family activities should not be limited to eating, playing and entertainment. Chores can also be a good way to bond with your kids.Wash the car by hand, water the plants, clean the table, wash the dishes, clean the house etc. These are some of the things you can do with your kids while conserving energy.
Teach your kids according to their age
Kids of different ages have different attitudes about things around them. If your 5-year son doesn’t know how to turn off the lights before leaving the room, all you need to do is to talk to him about its importance and showing him that you practice what you teach.
Your 10-year old daughter may require a different approach like showing her your electric bill and explaining to her that it will help if she will change her bad habits. You are teaching your 5-year old good habits while you are teaching and emphasizing your 10-year old good habits and responsibility.
The same thing applies to kids of different ages. The point is, make sure that you teach your kids proper ways to conserve energy using an approach suited to their ages.
Energy saving tips for kids
1-Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.
2-Always turn the lights off before leaving the room.
3-Turn the computer off after use.
4-Do not hold the refrigerator door open.
5-Unplug unnecessary appliance.
6-Use natural light if possible.
Saving energy is not so hard if your kids are involved. And just like any family activities you do, energy conservation should be fun, educational and driven by good motivation.
Popularity: 26% [?]
Hi Folks,
Here’s post number three in my “save money by saving energy” articles.
I hope you can use these tips to save money on next months utility bills.
Now, I’m off for a walk at Falls Park and downtown Greenville. One beautiful place to take a stroll.
Woody
Saving on your home energy bill
With the increasing cost of energy, we need to take measures to limit our energy consumption. Saving energy has now become a must.
Heating and Cooling:
Almost half of your energy bill goes for heating and cooling your home. So if you want to maximize your savings here are a few things you can do:
Replace your ac/furnace filters as recommended by the manufacturer.
Keep your baseboard heaters, radiators, and warm-air registers clean. Be sure they are working properly and that they are not blocked by drapes, carpeting, and furniture.
Set the thermostat as high as is comfortable when it is hot and as low as is comfortable when it is cold.
Turn off exhaust fans (kitchen, bath, others) 20 minutes after cooking or bathing. Keeping them on for a longer time affects the temperature of the room.
Lighting and Appliances:
As much as possible, use natural lights – working near a window will prevent you from turning on the light and consuming electricity. Utilize the power of the sun.
Switch off the lights when you leave a room for five minutes or longer.
If you are using fluorescent lights, install reflective backings to maximize the light.
Switch to compact fluorescent lights. These are tremendous energy savers.
Turn off all lights and appliances when not in use. Unplug appliances like television, stereos, computers, VCRs, and battery chargers when they are not in use. These appliances consume energy when they are plugged in.
Look for the Energy Star label when purchasing lighting product and appliances.
Use task lighting instead of lights that cover the entire room. For example, use lamps when reading and not the overhead lights.
Laundry:
Washing your clothes in cold water will reduce your washer’s energy consumption by as much as 90%. Drying your clothes on an outside line drastically cuts your energy bill (and your clothes smell great).
Always do full loads whenever possible. If you are washing a small load, use the appropriate water level and wash setting.
Refrigerator:
Maintain the correct temperature for your freezer and refrigerator.
Do not hold the refrigerator or freezer door open. Energy consumption increases dramatically when the compressor has to run just to maintain the temperature of the refrigerator and freezer while the door is open.
Check for leaks and cracks in the door gaskets. Make sure that your refrigerator is completely sealed to maintain the temperature inside.
Insulation:
Heat loss occurs when your house is not properly insulated and sealed. Use sealants and weather-stripping around windows and doors.
Make sure that the openings around pipes, ducts, and electrical conduit are sealed where they enter the house. A properly insulated home saves as much as 10% on electric bills.
Of a typical household’s electric and gas bill, 44% goes for heating and cooling the home; 33% goes for lights and appliances; 14% goes for heating water; and 9% goes for the refrigerator/freezer.
Popularity: 33% [?]
Tags: energy saving tips
Hi Folks,
The following post is number two in a series of articles on saving money while saving energy. None of the tips in these articles is rocket science - mostly common sense. The trick is following them.
I hope you are having a great day,
Woody
Saving Money While Saving Energy: Driving and Car Maintenance
More than two-thirds of the total oil consumed in the United States goes for transportation – mainly in the form of gasoline. An average American consumes approximately 500 gallons of gas annually. And with the unpredictable cost of fuel and the growing concern for the environment, saving energy by becoming a better driver and keeping your car properly maintained is becoming a must.
Consider the following tips to increase fuel efficiency and therefore, save energy…
Proper Driving:
Lighten up. Remove unnecessary things from your car. Extra weight consumes fuel.
Avoid idling. Driving 0 miles per hour doesn’t mean that you don’t consume fuel. A car engine that is running consumes fuel whether it is moving or not. Do not waste fuel by idling to preheat your engine. Once you start your engine, begin driving.
Turn off your engine if you are stuck in traffic. This is what makes hybrid cars so fuel efficient. Hybrid cars automatically shut off their engine when at full stop, eliminating fuel consumption while idling.
Park, turn off your engine and eat inside the restaurant instead of going to a drive thru.
If your vehicle has cruise control, use it. Cruise control helps you maintain a constant speed and saves gas.
Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving, abrupt acceleration, speeding and hard braking lowers your fuel efficiency by as much as 33% on the highway and 5% in the city.
Avoid high speeds. Fuel efficiency drops when you drive over 60 mph.
If you are driving a car with a manual transmission, shift to the highest drivable gear. High gear at low speed requires less pressure on the gas pedal compared to low gear at high revolution.
Calculate your breaking distance. Do not accelerate if you know that you will have to slow down or stop right away. Excessive breaking is the result of excessive acceleration. Avoid them both. Car air-conditioning system increases fuel consumption by as much as 15%. Turn it off whenever possible. Avoid using the roof rack. Instead, use your trunk. Items on your roof rack produce drag and reduces fuel economy by as much as 5%. Maintain the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure.
If you can afford the cost, switch to a hybrid car. Hybrid cars have better fuel economy than regular gasoline engine vehicles. Also, hybrid cars have lower emission ratings which helps reduce carbon dioxide emission. Electric cars and other vehicles that run on alternative energy are better choices if you want to save on fuel and help the environment.
Fuel efficiency is maximized if the car is light, aerodynamic and has a small engine. So when you are considering buying a new car, you should take these three elements into account.
Car Maintenance:
Replace or clean your air filter regularly. Clogged filters prevent air from entering the cylinders and results in poor car performance and higher fuel consumption.
Keep your wheels properly aligned.
Give your car regular tune ups, oil changes, and maintenance checks.
Try carpooling or public transportation to reduce fuel consumption and maintenance costs.
Use the correct type of oil for your car.
Make these tips a habit to save money, help the environment, and add years of life to your car.
Popularity: 23% [?]
Tags: save energy - save money
