| In the winter it is those heating bills. In the | | | | solar shades. But they have not seen everything |
| summer it is the electric bills caused by constantly | | | | we have done like the weather stripping the door |
| running the air conditioner. | | | | to the cold cellar or apply caulking here and there. |
| And, to make matters worse, the kids never | | | | So, we started by telling them of the contest, our |
| seem to turn off the lights in their room when | | | | participation in it, what we have done so far |
| they leave, are not turning faucets off so water | | | | ourselves for our own home, and so on. Would |
| drips constantly in the sink, or are leaving doors | | | | you be motivated by just this if you were a child? |
| and windows open letting the hot summer time | | | | Likely not. |
| air inside the house. | | | | Why not have them participate in the winnings. |
| How can we make our children help us reduce our | | | | Everyone likes to win. And, why only have them |
| utility utility bills now, instill in them energy | | | | share in something called a CFL light bulb? |
| conservation habits that they will have for a | | | | So, make it interesting to them. What about a trip |
| lifetime and create an environment where they | | | | to the ice cream store every week or two if |
| want to actually talk with you and learn about | | | | they can demonstrate that they are |
| energy conservation? | | | | remembering to turn off the faucet in the sink or |
| Our local electric utility is having for the first time | | | | the lights in their rooms? What about going to a |
| this year an electricity reduction contest over the | | | | movie or the zoo if they remember to close the |
| summer. Electricity usage will be compared for | | | | back door or pull down the interior blinds during |
| those residences who register for the contest | | | | the day? |
| between May 1st and the end of August of this | | | | What about a day at the beach if they catch you, |
| year to last. | | | | yes you, not doing any of the energy |
| There are two levels of winners. Those achieving | | | | conservation conservation habits that you tell |
| a reduction less than 10% will be entered in one | | | | them about? |
| group to participate in a drawing of various prizes. | | | | How about offering them a list of rewards from |
| Those achieving a reduction of more than 10% | | | | which they can choose and make it clear how |
| will be entered in a second group where the | | | | you will measure their performance? |
| available prizes will be larger, for example a solar | | | | You could hold a weekly 'meeting' where you |
| water heating unit. | | | | review how the family has done during that week |
| Sure, we have registered our home to participate. | | | | to reinforce what they need to do in order for |
| We even think we have an ace in the hole | | | | them to be rewarded. |
| because of the home energy audit we had | | | | You don't have to start with everything at once. |
| performed recently on our home with lots of | | | | Perhaps you introduce one energy conservation |
| energy conservation ideas. And, we have even | | | | item at the beginning of the week and have the |
| installed solar shades on the outside, yes ... the | | | | list of possible prizes be larger as the weeks go |
| outside, of our south facing windows to reduce | | | | by as they demonstrate doing more and more |
| much of the sun's UV rays from even entering | | | | energy conservation tasks. |
| our home while still allowing us to see outside | | | | And, lastly, you don't have to wait for your own |
| which most in North America have only started | | | | local utility to run a contest. This type of family |
| to learn about in the past few years. | | | | involvement with energy conservation is |
| However, we (my wife and I) can't be the only | | | | something where everyone wins. Start now. With |
| ones who keep running around the house turning | | | | the hot summer days now upon us, there is no |
| the lights off in this room and closing the back | | | | better time to start. |
| door and .... you get my gist. | | | | For more home energy conservation ideas and |
| So, we have mentioned the contest to our | | | | tips, and our own family's experiences with home |
| children. They have seen us make some energy | | | | renovations and energy conservation, simply use |
| conservation adjustments in our house like the | | | | the link below to access our blog, Daily Home |
| CFL lights and the previously mentioned exterior | | | | Renovation Tips. |