Few would dispute that our nation’s youth represent an effective force for social change. Recycling has become a national habit, thanks in part to school-sponsored education that has infiltrated home and community behavior. When students understand why a compact fluorescent is a wiser investment than an incandescent, they can explain it to their parents better than the most carefully designed brochure or public service announcement.
Students can stimulate their parents to incorporate energy efficiency into their household purchasing decisions and daily habits. In the Alliance’s Green Schools Program, many students conduct an energy audit of their home and recommend energy saving measures to their parents. Or even better—students and parents work together to conduct an energy audit of their home.
Check out the Alliance to Save Energy's
Home Energy Checkup and Audit webpage to find out simple steps you can take to make your home more energy efficient. For additional ideas, try out the following lesson plans from Green Schools curriculum that are designed to help improve energy efficiency in the home:
