THIS WEEK'S ECO-TIP: Teach Kids
April 6-13, 2008

The quickest way to hasten lasting change, I've learned, is to teach kids. Soon they're young adults making decisions of their own. With a firm green foundation, they're well on their way to living sustainably. Here's one week of easy spring tips to help kids "grow up green."

Sunday: Turn off the lights

Teach your kids to turn off lights every time they leave a room. It's old-fashioned frugal wisdom. All it takes is a flip of the switch--a simple change to habit--to save energy.

Monday: Dig in

Research indicates that kids who garden care more about their surroundings. Gardening also helps improve test scores—all the more reason to hand your kid a shovel and some seeds. If nothing else, help them plant a tree.  The National Arbor Day Foundation has a great site that teaches kids all about trees. It's worth checking out: www.arborday.org. With a $10 membership, they send you ten seedlings. It's a start.

Tuesday: Reduce the juice

Your energy bill is one bill you can control. In 2005, the average household spent almost $1,900 on home energy bills. You can save 10% - 50% of that each year by making smart energy choices. Help your kids spot "energy hogs" around the home. Check out www.energyhog.com to find out how to conduct a simple home energy audit.

Wednesday: Watch water

A single slow leaky faucet wastes, on average, three gallons per day, or the equivalent of 27 baths per year, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Christen your kids "the dripping faucet police." Teach them how to go around the house and see if any faucets are leaking. If they find any, show them how to fix it.

Thursday: Leave shoes at the door

This one easy step helps cut down pollutants in house dust by not tracking in pesticides, bacteria, viruses, and such. Teach kids to leave a pair of slippers or moccasins by the door to slip on when they enter. Separate shoes into "indoor shoes" and "outdoor shoes."

Friday: Shorten your shower

Show kids how to use an egg timer to cut down on the minutes it takes to get clean. No shower should be more than five minutes long. Three minutes is a whole lot better. Once a week take a "military shower"--get wet, turn off the water, lather up, wash off. Better yet, take baths--they use less water than showers.

Saturday: Save the rain

Help kits collect rainwater by putting a rain barrel under an eave of your house. Fresh rainwater is a whole lot better for thirsty plants than tap water which has been stripped of a lot of its natural minerals.