Teach Kids to be Energy Savers: It’s Not Too Soon to Start Good Habits

If you’re like many Americans, you’ve thought about what you can do to decrease your energy consumption in your home. But since you aren’t the only one living there, it makes sense to get your whole household on board. If you teach kids to be energy savers, it’s a lesson that will last a lifetime.

How to Teach Kids to Be Energy Savers

• Teach children how to use the thermostat wisely. Little ones don’t really have a concept of how energy works. They just want the house cool or warm, depending on the season. Buy a programmable thermostat and show them how it works. Set the temperatures to the U.S. Department of Energy’s recommendations of 78 degrees in the summer and 68 degrees in the winter. As your energy consumption decreases, show them how your energy bills have gone down and plan a fun activity with the savings.
• Get kids involved in routine maintenance. For example, air filters are easy to check and replace. Even very young children can provide you some assistance in doing this. They may enjoy it enough that it can become a fun monthly project for the whole family.
• Show your older children how you work to improve your energy efficiency. Kids love to help you do technical tasks, and having them assist in this regard will be setting them up for a lifetime of quality homeownership. A great example of a task you can do with your children is checking for and sealing air leaks. They’ll enjoy holding lit incense next to windows and doors and watching to see if it flickers. And if they’re old enough, allowing them to help you use caulking and weatherstripping can take care of those leaks.

When you want to know how to teach kids to be energy savers, or if you need expert advice on your home comfort needs, contact the professionals at Preferred Air Conditioning & Mechanical, Inc. We’ve proudly served the south Florida area since 1991.