• Lighting – replacing one 75 watt incandescent bulb with a 19-watt compact fluorescent can cut 55 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. Assign your math-loving child the task of determining how many light bulbs you need to replace and the reduction in emissions. Engage children in budgeting for purchases and replacement.

• Power strips – used for computers, televisions, radios or other electronics which continually emit power even when turned off. Each night, time your children while they run around the house turning off the strips.

• Heating and cooling – assign a child to monitor the temperature in the house and whether people are too hot or too cold.

• Travel – learn to do errands by foot, bike, or public transport. This can be far more interactive than sitting in your car.

• Recycling – help your children understand what is recyclable in your city and then make them part of the cleaning and sorting. Visit a recycling plant for those items your city does not pick up and help your kids understand the process.