Cool Off With These Energy-Saving, Family-Friendly Activities

Beat the Heat With Adventures Outside the Home

Why stay home when you can go out and save energy at the same time? Here are several ideas that will entertain the whole family:

• Explore a local museum.
• Go to a nearby library.
• Hike nearby parks or trails and have a picnic along the way.
• Take a refreshing dip in a community pool or at a public beach, or play at a splash pad.
• Enjoy an outdoor concert at a local park.

Just remember to adjust your thermostat before you leave the house! The U.S. Energy Department recommends setting the thermostat several degrees higher when you leave the home, as this will help cut back on cooling costs. In fact, regularly adjusting the thermostat 7 or 8 degrees away from your comfortable temperature for eight hours a day can help you save up to 10% on your energy bills each year.

Make sure to also check that all power strips and lights are switched off when you go out to maximize the savings.

Make Saving Energy Fun

Your children can have fun while learning about saving energy. Turn your routine energy checks into entertaining games with your whole family.

Here are some of our favorite energy-friendly games:

• Energy patrol: Work with your child to search for energy wasters such as lights left on in rooms no one is using, opened shades or curtains in sunny windows, and plugged in small appliances.
• No-electricity chefs: Put your child in charge of making dessert without any electricity.
• Educational games: Teach your children about saving energy through puzzles or the Virginia Energy Sense activity book.

With these activities, you can talk to your kids about the importance of reducing energy consumption and the positive impacts it has on the environment and your family.

Create Educational Art

Get creative and make art that promotes awareness about energy efficiency. Here are some ways to create art and have a fun, crafty day:

• Draw with sidewalk chalk outside to teach passersby about ways to reduce energy use.
• Create sticker art with energy saving messages.
• Craft easy suncatchers to brighten up your space.
• Make DIY door draft stoppers to reduce air leaks in your home.
• Enjoy simple painting or drawing sessions focused on energy conservation themes.

This summer, make the most of your family time with these energy-saving activities from Virginia Energy Sense. From outdoor adventures to creative art projects, you can have a blast while promoting energy efficiency. Remember, reducing your energy use not only lowers your bill but also contributes to a greener, more sustainable future for your family and the planet.

Discover additional Virginia Energy Sense summer resources to reduce your energy costs.