Cooperative Living August 2023 - 24

ENERGY SENSE
In the kitchen, keep the refrigerator door shut.
●each kids to take a quick peek and shut the
door while they think about their snack options.
●each kids to dress appropriately for the seasons,
even when they are indoors, which allows you to
set the thermostat to balance comfort and savings.
Teach Your Children Well
by Miranda Boutelle, Contributing Columnist
Instilling energy-saving habits early
Q:
S
I'm trying to reduce my energy use, and I
want my kids to start energy-saving habits
as well. How can I encourage them to use
less electricity at home?
how your children how to read
the electric bill. Focus on what you
can control: kilowatt-hour use. If
they are old enough, teach them how to
do the math. You can calculate kWh use
by multiplying wattage by hours used and
dividing by 1,000. Multiply this by the
kWh rate found on your electric bill to
estimate how much you spend on power
for each household appliance.
For household appliance wattage,
look for the amount stamped on the
bottom, back or nameplate. If the
nameplate does not include wattage,
figure it out by multiplying the voltage
by the amperage.
To teach children the impact of saving
energy, have them help you conserve
22 ● Cooperative Living ●
August 2023
A:
Educating kids on energy use and costs can help engage them
in your family's goal to use less electricity. They can be electric
conservation champions if you ask them to help.
with the household's biggest energyconsuming
appliances: heating and
cooling. Teach kids to dress
appropriately for the seasons, even when
they are indoors, which allows you to
set the thermostat to balance comfort
and savings. The second-highest use of
electricity is typically the electric water
heater. Use a shower timer so bigger
kids can monitor how long they are in
the shower. Teach them to wash their
clothes with cold water. If you have a
gas water heater, look at the gas bill to
find opportunities to save.
Other ways to save include turning
off the lights when you leave the room.
The more we switch to LED lighting,
the less savings associated. Yet even
little changes can add up throughout the
year. If your child needs a nightlight to
sleep with, make sure it's an LED bulb.
Powering down gaming stations and
computers is another way to save. In the
kitchen, keep the refrigerator door shut.
Teach kids to take a quick peek and
shut the door while they think about
their snack options.
You can also teach children where the
electricity for their home comes from.
Check out your electric co-op's website
or give them a call to find out what
energy sources power your home. 
Miranda Boutelle writes on energy
efficiency topics for the National Rural
Electric Cooperative Association.
co-opliving.com
PHOTO COURTESY PNW PRODUCTION
PHOTO COURTESY MIKE TEEGARDEN, PIONEER UTILITY RESOURCES
http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living August 2023

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