Carbon Footprint
A natural carbon cycle occurs as plants decay and release carbon into the atmosphere. However, human activity and deforestation have created a surge in carbon emissions beyond the normal rate of exchange, overloading the environment with pollution and affecting weather systems. To lessen the negative effect your family's activities and habits have on the planet, help children make changes in habits of electricity use, such as unplugging seldom-used appliances, not preheating the oven unless baking breads and pastries, lowering the thermostat on the water heater and raising the temperature by 5 degrees in the refrigerator and freezer. The Environmental Protection Agency website describes calculations for other types of energy use, as well.
Energy Savers
Producing energy uses natural resources, many of which are irreplaceable once they are depleted. Although these non-renewable resources are relatively cheap and easy to use, many people do not realize how much money they are wasting with careless energy habits at home. Teach your children that lowering the thermostat by 2 degrees will save the family 10 percent on the heating and cooling bill. Have children make signs to post around the house, reminding everyone to turn out the lights, computer, TV and game systems when they are not in the room. Make a habit of relying on sunlight rather than electric light during the day. Show children how to check doors and windows for air leaks, and seal them up.
Water Conservation
According to the EPA at the time of publication, "From 1950 to 2000, the number of people living in the United States doubled, while the demand for water more than tripled." This makes it important to use overstressed water supplies efficiently. Children can encourage their families to help by taking shorter showers, turning off the water while brushing teeth or soaping hands and watering lawns and gardens in the evening to prevent it from evaporating in the heat of the day. Families can further conserve water by installing low-flow toilets and shower heads. Teaching a child how to fix a leaky faucet further empowers her to make a positive difference for the planet.
Recycling and Cleanup
Perhaps the simplest thing children can do is to collect and sort recyclables. Many communities have curbside recycling, or children can separate and bag or box up paper, glass, plastic and metal items and deliver them to a local recycling center. Children are generally welcome to participate in neighborhood, park or beach cleanups. State parks sometimes have recycling and cleanup rewards for youngsters to promote responsible use of public lands. Parents can instill in children the habit to pick up wherever they go and to leave a place better than they found it.
Fundraisers
Whether it is a bake sale, a lemonade stand, a carnival, a fun run or a charity dinner, children can plan and organize a fundraiser to help the environmental efforts of their favorite organization. Have the children select an issue or area of the world in need of environmental protection, such as the coral reefs or the rain forest. Identify a charity that is working on behalf of the problem, and let the children run the fundraiser as much as possible, providing adult supervision where necessary. After the fundraiser, let them have the satisfaction of counting up the earnings and mailing the donation to the selected group.