I am working with Brit Mums and British Gas on an exciting campaign to help educate about energy conservation. The aim of the campaign is to teach children about ways to save energy around the home and in turn remind us all how to be more mindful of our own consumption.
My daughter Kizzy is 9 years old and very keen on green issues, so I've recruited her help to compile a list of energy saving ideas that are easy to follow, will save money and will reduce our carbon footprint. Maybe if we all made a New Year Resolution to do our bit to save energy we could make a difference. Involving young people in energy saving ideas is a great way to get them to follow in our carbon footsteps! Children are never too young to be prompted to turn off the tap when brushing their teeth, or to switch off the light when they leave a room.
Top Ten Ways For Kids to Save Energy
1: Turn things off when they are not in use. We don't need to have lights on in empty rooms, the TV doesn't have to be left on all day when no-one is watching it and laptops and other electrical devices don't need to sit on standby. Kids make great switch-off monitors!
2: Turn your thermostat down by one degree. You won't even notice the difference in temperature. Set the timer on the heater to come on and off during the day rather than leaving it on all day. When it's chilly it is tempting to crank up the heating...instead put on a jumper or jump up and get active. You'll soon warm up!
3: Only fill the kettle with the amount of water you need if you are making a cuppa for your mum.
4: Be quick when getting food out of the fridge or freezer. Don't be indecisive and stand with the door open letting all the cold air out!
5: Make sure you 'dirty out' clothes! Can you wear those jeans one more time? Does that jumper really need washing after just one day? You can reduce the amount of loads of laundry done in a week, and you will help save money, water and energy.
6: Shut your bedroom curtains at dusk to keep the warm air in the room. Heat escapes quickly through a cold window.
7: Have showers instead or baths. Limit the time spent in the shower to under 10 minutes.
8: Keep doors shut to keep heat in rooms and stop drafts. No standing on the doorstep chatting with friends either. Invite them in or chat outside!
9: Recycle or re-use! Be sure to think before throwing rubbish in the bin. Can it be re-used or made into something new? If not can it be recycled? Think before you consign anything to landfill!
10: Don't leave taps dripping. Always give the taps an extra turn!!
One great way to monitor energy consumption in the home is to use a Smart Meter. British Gas is helping to launch a campaign to educate people about the benefits of having a Smart Meter installed. You can get all the family involved allowing everyone to see, understand and control their energy consumption. You can see how to reduce the energy you are using and save money in the process. The UK government has committed to reduce energy usage and has set a target for all UK homes to have a Smart Meter by 2019. The accuracy that smart meters provide will make it possible to forecast energy use throughout the day, across the country. This means power suppliers can become more efficient in how they generate the nation's power, producing cleaner, greener electricity.
The Smart Meters have great benefits for home owners:
- Smart meters will transform our understanding of energy and how we use it forever
- For the first time you can see how much gas and electricity you're using as you use it - and how much it's costing
- Knowing more about what you use will help you make changes that could save around 10% on your bills
- Smart meters means accurate bills and an end to having to submit meter readings
“I'm participating in the British Gas Smart Meter campaign. Smart meters work with an in-home display to show how much energy you're using in pounds and pence. You can see how much you're spending by leaving your phone charger plugged in all the time, or the heating on at night. And when you can really see how much you're using, you can start to make small changes to become more efficient. Smart Meters automatically send British Gas readings so they represent the end of estimated bills! British Gas is committed to install 1.5 million smart meters by the end of 2012. http://www.britishgas.co.uk/energy-efficiency/smart-meters.html "
