10 Easy Ways for Kids to Conserve Energy at Home and School

Conserving energy is just one way we can help the environment and minimize the use of our energy resources. As students, parents, and teachers gear up for back to school season, more energy will be used in homes and classrooms. Here are 10 easy ways that kids can be a part of conserving energy in the home and classroom.

Energy Conservation for Kids at Home

1. Take a Shower Instead of a Bath  

Taking a bath can use up to 25 gallons of water, that’s just for one wash! It takes power and energy to heat the water that is used in both baths and showers. However, taking a shower uses 3.5 times less water than a bath which means a lot less energy is used to heat the water. Switching to showers is a great way to conserve energy while staying squeaky clean. 

2. Limit Electronic Usage 

The summer months are a great time to get kids off of electronics and outside to play. As we approach the school year and get into the colder months, it may be harder to keep kids off of electronics. However, limited electronic use is a great way to conserve energy. 

When devices are used less frequently they don’t require as much charging time. This means that less of our electricity is being used to power electronics. Consider implementing a screen time rule or come up with fun activities, like STEM projects, to do indoors during the winter. 

3. Turn Everything off When You Aren’t in the Room

When lights, TVs, computers, video games, and other devices are left on and aren’t being used they waste electricity. A simple way that kids can help conserve energy is to be responsible for turning off all lights and devices when leaving a room for more than a few minutes. This not only makes them more conscious about how their actions affect the environment but also builds in practical ways they can be a part of energy conservation. 

4. Keep Windows and Blinds Closed 

In the warmer months it is especially important to keep our windows and blinds closed during the day. When the windows stay shut, the heat is kept out and the air conditioning stays in. Additionally, blinds can block out heat from the sun and keep our homes cooler on warm days.

This also helps conserve energy because the energy being used to power the air conditioning doesn’t get wasted on cooling the outdoors. Kids can be a part of this effort by helping check the windows in the morning and making sure they are closed during the day.

5. Plant a Tree 

Planting trees can provide your home with shade and offer a cooler indoor temperature. The shade from a tree may allow you to use less air conditioning and conserve energy in your home. This can also be a fun family activity and kids can learn about the environmental benefits that planting trees can offer.  

Conserving Energy at School

1. Ride a Bike or Walk to School 

As the school year is approaching, we should consider how we are getting to and from our schools. Driving a car takes a lot of gas to get to our destination and produces many emissions. A great alternative for older students is to ride a bike or walk to school. This allows the oil that would be used in a vehicle to power other things, like electricity for our homes. 

2. Use Both Sides of a Piece of Paper

Going back to school means buying school supplies! It is important to be conscious of how the items we use day to day affect the environment. Producing, disposing of, and wasting paper has many environmental impacts. Just 1 kilogram of paper requires 324 liters of water to produce. The resources that are used to make paper could instead be used to power our homes and give us more electricity. Kids can conserve energy at school by using less paper and making sure they have used both sides to get the most life out of it.  

3. Use a Reusable Water Bottle 

Using reusable water bottles is a great way to conserve energy and reduce waste. 

Plastic bottles take a large amount of oil and energy to produce. They also create massive amounts of waste. In just one week enough plastic bottles are used to wrap around the world five times. With this large amount of waste and energy used to produce plastic bottles, opt for a reusable one this school year and help conserve energy.  

4. Recycle

Recycling not only helps the environment but also saves energy. When materials are recycled they can be used to create new products. This allows for 30% less energy to be used when making products than if they were produced from scratch. Kids can conserve energy at school by being conscious of what materials they are able to recycle.  

5. Ask Your Teacher About Classroom Jobs

A great way for students to take ownership in school is through classroom jobs. Some great examples of jobs that help conserve energy are ‘The Electrician’ and ‘IT’. The Electrician is in charge of turning on and off the lights at appropriate times as well as when the whole class is not in the room. IT makes sure all of the computers are shut down at the end of the day so that no unnecessary energy is being used. These responsibilities can help all school kids be a part of conserving energy. Ask your teacher to see how these jobs can be implemented into the classroom. 

Electrify and Save™ 

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Tri-State is a not-for-profit cooperative of 45 members, including 42 member utility electric distribution cooperatives and public power districts in four states, that together deliver reliable, affordable, and responsible power to more than a million electricity consumers across nearly 200,000 square miles of the West.