By Harriet Blake
Green Right Now
Every teen has probably heard his or her parent tell them to ‘Do Something!’– and the U.S. EPA agrees. They should.
On Wednesday, the agency announced that it is joining forces with DoSomething.org to help empower teens to take environmental actions.
DoSomething, started by actor Andrew Shue in 1993, “uses the power of online to get teens to do good stuff offline.” Their mantra is that they believe in teens’ power to improve their communities.
This new joint program with the EPA’s Energy Star program will help teens get involved.
For instance, the DoSomething/EnergyStar liaison will set up older youth with the “Change the World, Start with Energy Star” campaign and help leverage social media to engage teens on energy efficiency and climate change, said public affairs officer Denise Durrett.
Last Earth Day, Energy Star launched a joint project with the Boys and Girls Club, to teach American youth learn ways to help the environment in their communities.
The kids work with Energy Star staff doing home energy check ups in their neighborhoods. “Most of these are simple things that kids can do,” says Durrett, “such as switching out incandescent bulbs for CFLs.” The check list also covers thermostat temperature checks and sealing air leaks. The kids range in age from 7 to 18, with the older ones helping the younger ones.
The Energy Star/Boys and Girls Club project also works with PTAs and PTOs at neighborhood schools by sponsoring “Go Green Nights” in which families are invited to their school to learn about eco-friendly activities. Durrett says that by the end of this school year, there will have been more than 500,000 Go Green Nights.
In addition to its outreach program, Energy Star has developed a dynamic, colorful and interactive kids site that encourages kids to be “energy stars” and explains why the planet needs their involvement.
The site covers what energy is and where it comes from; discusses energy conservation and offers a slide show on global warming. It provides fun facts using bold graphics about where home energy and how kids can save energy starting in their own bedroom.
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