How Do I Help?

We can all help reduce the release of greenhouse gases. Since the largest users of energy in this country are generating electricity and transportation, these are good places to start looking for ways to save.

By planning and combining trips or sharing rides to school or work, we can reduce the amount of gasoline burned by our cars. Turning off lights and using fans instead of air conditioning reduces energy use.

Perhaps the best news about helping reduce greenhouse gases is that while you are helping the planet, you are also helping your family save money on gasoline and utility bills.

Which of the following are things you and your family can do to use less energy?

Turn off video game consoles, computers and TVs when you are finished using them.
Unplug chargers when they are not in use. They waste a small amount of electricity even when nothing is connected to them.
Keep doors and windows closed when your home is being heated or air conditioned.
Decide what you want before opening the refrigerator door so it doesn’t stay open longer than needed.
Set your thermostat to a lower temperature in the winter and a higher one in the summer.
Dress in warm clothes in the winter and cool ones in the summer.
Turn off lights when leaving a room.
When it’s hot, use a glass of cold water to cool off rather than turning on the air conditioning.
Turn off the water while you are brushing your teeth. Pumping and cleaning drinking water is a large user of electricity in some places.
Be a drip detective. Report water leaks or dripping faucets to your parents or an adult so they can be repaired. Wasting water also wastes the energy used to pump and purify it.
Look out for hot water leaks because they waste water AND the energy used to heat it.