You have probably heard the grown-ups in your house say "Turn off the light!" or "Close the refrigerator door!" Have you ever wondered why?
Energy is there whenever we need it - so it is easy to forget where it comes from, or how much it costs, but nowadays regular load shedding disrupts our regular life. The load shedding happens as a result of less electricity available for consumption than the demand.
It all adds up!
Every year, we use more energy than we did the year before. In fact, the amount of energy we use has doubled about every 20 years.
- All of that energy adds up and much of it is wasted by using too much or not using it wisely.
- Energy is not free! The grown-ups in your house pay for all the electricity you use. So wasting energy is the same as wasting money - and we know that is not a good idea!
- Wasting energy is not good for the environment either. Most of the energy sources we depend on, like coal and natural gas, cannot be replaced - once we use them up, they are gone forever. Another problem is that most forms of energy can cause pollution.
What can you do?
It might seem like kids cannot do much to help. But every time you turn off a light bulb or close the refrigerator door, you are saving energy.
You can also help by reminding grown-ups to limit usage of air conditioners in summers , buy energy-smart light bulbs and use appliances the right way.
There are lots of easy ways to save energy at home - and all those energy-savers add up to a big impact on the environment.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT SAVING ENERGY
What is energy conservation?
It is another way to say
"saving energy" -
"conserve" means to
"avoid using". When we turn off a light, we're conserving energy.
What is energy efficiency?
Energy efficiency also means using less energy - but this term means using products that do not waste energy.
For example, the ordinary light bulbs you might use at home waste almost all of the energy they use - most of the electricity turns into heat.
An energy-efficient light bulb turns almost all of the electricity it uses into light.
Why is it so important to save energy?
Energy is not free. The grown-ups in your house pay for the all the electricity you use. So wasting energy is the same as wasting money - and we know that is not a good idea!
Wasting energy is not good for the environment either. Most of the energy sources we depend on, like oil, coal and natural gas, cannot be replaced - once we use them up, they are gone forever. Another problem is that most forms of energy can cause pollution.
So the more energy we save, the better off our pocketbooks and our earth will be
What's the best way to save energy at home?
During the summer, using a fan instead of turning on the air conditioner will save a lot of electricity
Which appliances use the most electricity?
Of all the big appliances in your house, the refrigerator uses the most electricity. An older refrigerator that does not use energy efficiently might cost more than 20% of the total energy consumed in your house.
Other big energy users are water heaters, washing machines, air conditioners and ovens.
