Many parents want to teach their children about renewable energy and energy efficiency at a young age because once they get used to it, it will be a habit they will continue to maintain for the rest of their lives. But where should you start when teaching renewable energy to kids? A good idea would be to start by defining exactly what renewable energy is. You can suggest that they make a list of renewable and non-renewable energy sources and build from there. Some examples would be:
Non-renewable: Oil/gas, natural gas, coal, nuclear
Renewable: Solar, wind, geothermal, hydro/water
Explain to them how renewable energy comes from natural forces. It differs from fossil fuels in that it does not produce greenhouse gases or other pollutants. Can you explain in more detail how the massive production of electricity using renewable energy sources has become more popular recently. Some of the reasons it is becoming more popular include: climate change caused by pollution and fossil fuels are running out and becoming more expensive.
A great idea is to teach children about energy efficiency. Ask them to make a list of all the electrical devices they use during a day, such as TV, computer, lights, etc. and for how long, and if possible the power of each device. If they can’t get the wattage, you can look up the average wattage of each device for demonstration purposes. Do a rough calculation to show them how much energy they are using in a day. Now have them do an ‘energy conservation’ day where they turn off devices when they’re not in use, turn off lights when they’re not in a room, turn down the heat or air conditioning a couple of degrees, etc. Now recalculate the daily power and show them how much energy they saved with a few simple changes.
Another great idea is to show them how installing a solar panel or windmill can generate electricity for their own home. It is not as expensive as you might think. You don’t need an expensive commercial solar panel, you can build your own for $100-200 bucks and your kids could even help out if they’re old enough. The less you take energy for granted, the better.