Tips to Help Kids Save Electricity

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Saving energy for the whole family

Sustainable habits to save energy in the household shouldn’t be reserved for adults. Teaching kids to understand their role in saving energy can benefit your household — and take a few tasks off your plate. Use this guide to learn developmentally appropriate ways children can establish eco-friendly habits.

Energy facts for kids

Kids are naturally curious and excellent at learning new things. The team at Choose Texas Power compiled a few important energy facts to help your kids get excited about saving energy.

• Your home is powered by energy, which can come from fossil fuels, nuclear power, or renewable sources like the sun.
• While the majority of energy used in your home is for heating and cooling, many other household appliances use energy, including light bulbs, electronics, refrigerators, washing machines, and more.
• Using less energy can help the environment by reducing carbon emissions and waste.

Energy-saving habits for younger age groups

Teaching micro habits while kids are little can set the foundation for more impactful habits as they grow up. Here are a few simple tricks you can teach younger children.

• Set a good example. Kids love imitating what adults around them do. If they see you always turning off the lights when you leave a room, they’re more likely to do the same.
• Teach them how to recycle. As kids learn to sort colors and shapes, they can learn that bottles, cans, and paper go in the recycling bin rather than the trash bin.
• Start a compost pile or bin. Show your children how to place food scraps in a compost bin instead of in the trash, and teach them about the benefits of composting.
• Use an LED nightlight. LED light bulbs are more efficient than regular ones and last longer. Let your kids pick out their own LED nightlight while explaining that it uses less energy.
• Turn off the water. Kids often leave the water on while brushing their teeth. Help them create a habit of keeping the water off until they are ready to rinse.

Energy-saving tips for older children

As kids get older, their impact in the household expands. Explore new ways your older kids can make a difference.

• Give them eco-friendly chores. Now that your kids know the difference between recycling, trash, and compost, task them with taking out the trash each week. They can make sure everything is properly sorted.
• Check the house for lights and electronics. Encourage your kids to unplug their electronics and turn off their room lights when they’re not using them.
• Help with gardening. Planting trees to block the sun will help keep your home cool in the summer and allow you to use less AC. Let your kids help plant trees to provide shade and learn about gardening.
• Rake leaves in the fall. Fallen leaves are an excellent compost material. Your kids can rake the lawn to add to your compost pile.
• Set a timer for the shower. Teach your children to use less water by having them set a timer for showers.
• Turn off the TV before bed. Prevent your kids from forming a habit of falling asleep to the TV so the device is not running all night. Many electronics still use up energy even when set to sleep mode.