By Wayne Price

Our lives are intertwined with a growing list of consumer electronics that rely on electricity. That list includes everything from smart phones to smart appliances. If you have children or grand-children around the house you probably are having to follow them around, turning off all the lights and devices they leave on.
    I realize that convincing children to care about energy efficiency is a difficult task, but there might be a way you can teach your children how to save energy. It’s best to start by explaining why saving energy is important and how it could benefit the child. If they don’t understand why they should change their habits, they won’t be motivated to do so. Simply put, spending less money on the electric bill can mean more money for fun activities. That’s something any child can understand.
    Because “using less electricity” is an abstract concept for small children, try to be specific about energy efficiency actions and lead by example. Children tend to learn by observing what their parents or even older siblings do. When you turn off the lights when leaving a room or unplug the phone charger once the device is fully charged, they will notice.
    Teaching your children about energy efficiency doesn’t have to be a boring lecture. Try to make it fun for the greatest impact.
    For younger kids, turn energy efficiency into a “treasure hunt” game to locate all the things in your home that use electricity. Depending on the age of the children, challenge them to count and group the items into categories: electronics, appliances, lights, etc. If they are old enough, have them create a list. Ask which gadgets and appliances could be turned off or unplugged to save power every day.
    For older children, show them how to program the smart thermostat and appliances. Shop with them for LED lights and discuss EnergyStar-rated appliances. Show them the electric bill so they can see the costs, energy use and how their actions impact the bill.
    Don’t be afraid to provide rewards for agreed upon milestones. Rewards provide positive reinforcement on energy-saving actions. The idea is to create a habit of being energy efficient. And for parents, this could mean less nagging about turning off the lights!
    Teaching your children about saving energy is not only a creative way to spend time with them; it helps your home to be more energy efficient and can instill good habits that will benefit your child as they grow to adulthood.