Get the kids involved!

Everywhere we look these days we’re bombarded by news on climate change and global warming, and for good reason. This is an issue that affects our generation and every generation to follow: our children, our grandchildren, our great-grandchildren and so on.

First Nations people had a philosophy that they should base their decision and policy-making on how it will impact seven generations from now. Maybe if we had adopted that wise principle our world wouldn’t be in the situation in which we find ourselves today.

I attended the Town of Kentville’s launch of their no-idling bylaw held recently at Kingstec, along with the showing of Al Gore’s film, An Inconvenient Truth. On one hand climate change is an overwhelming issue, almost too big to tackle, but on the other, every small change we make can have an impact on the outcome.

Getting our children involved in making changes to slow down the process of global warming is a good start. Families can work together in their own households to make a difference. We want to educate and empower our children to do something by taking action, otherwise it’s easy for our youth to become discouraged and worry about a devastating future.

How can we get our kids involved at the family, community and global levels?

Within our own households, there are many easy energy-saving strategies that even young children can learn to adopt. Here are 20 energy-saving tips for your home:

1) Turn off the lights when you leave a room.

2) Turn off electronics, such as video games, TVs and computers when they’re not in use.

3) Reduce hot water consumption. Shorten showers and wash clothes in cold water.

4) Keep windows and doors closed when the house is being heated or cooled.

5) Separate waste into garbage, recyclables and compost.

6) Use recycled household materials for crafts, containers, making gifts.

7) Plant a tree! Grow a garden!

8) Turn off your vehicle’s engine \when you’re waiting for your child or stopping.

9) Walk, bicycle and use public transit more often.

10) Consolidate your errands and trips to town, or car pool.

11) Change to energy efficient lightbulbs and use natural light whenever possible.

12) Drive a fuel-efficient vehicle.

13) Only run the dishwasher when it’s full.

14) Choose recyclable products when shopping and avoid over-packaging.

15) Shop for local foods, crafts and products.

16) Use a timer for lights when you’re on vacation and lower your thermostat to conserve energy.

17) Instead of using the drive-through, turn off your car and walk in to place your order.

18) Check your home for air leaks and make sure your house is well insulated.

19) Use your clothesline more often.

20) Use recyclable containers when packing school lunches and snacks.

It’s our children who will inherit this planet, so now is the time to raise their awareness of climate and environmental changes so these strategies become natural for their generation.

To calculate your family’s carbon footprint, check out www.fightglobalwarming.com.

Lila Hope-Simpson is the Director of the Home and Heart Nursery School in

Wolfville