Welcome to The Regenerators.
Using less energy helps to keep the planet and your wallet happy.
We don’t often think about how energy gets into our home and where it comes from. Sources like coal, fossil fuels, natural gas, wind, solar or biofuels are required to generate energy, and some of them are kinder to the earth than others.
Coal, fossil fuels and natural gas are examples of non-renewable energy sources and contribute to the increase in global temperature we are experiencing.
Putting on more layers in colder months can save energy, which helps protect the environment. The Regenerators has teamed up with Planet League and West Bromwich Albion’s women's team - ' for a fun ‘layer up challenge’ See how the players got on below …
West Bromwich Albion take on the 'Layer up challenge'
Can these three families reduce their energy consumption?
Over a week, the Clarkes, the Gardeners and the Kunchalas tried to reduce their energy usage. See how they got on.
Parents (individually): Microwave is on and this kettle is on, so we can switch it off.
We all have a role to play in reducing the UK's carbon footprint. When you account for heat, electricity, transportation and other household usage.
40% of the UK emissions come from households.
Transport actually makes up a fifth of the average UK households carbon footprint.
Boy 1: Wow!
Parents (individually): Absolute madness. There's some stats there that you wouldn't even believe really, would you?
Boy 2: No.
Parents (individually): So what do you think in our house uses all that energy?
What about the gas with your hot water.
Boy 3: Well yeah, the hot water and like your electric stuff.
Boy 1: Yeah. So TV, like the printer and loads more.
Parents (individually): I'm about to get on the bus to save on fuel and the benefit of these buses, is the fact that they actually run on electric.
Boy 2: It's better going on our Scooters or walking than going in your car.
**Boy 3:**We are walking to the shops today. No car, no, no, no.
Parents (individually): We've made it to the shops.
Do you reckon we are wasting energy right now? Look above us.
Boy 3: Off.
Parents (individually): The lights have been left on upstairs.
Switch off the printer where it takes most of the electricity too.
Turn the kettle off and unplug it. TV always left on.
Boy 2: That's not true.
Parents (individually): Well, quite often left on, let's turn that off.
**Boy 3:**So we have no light on in my room.
**Parents (individually):**The light's off. Yeah, well done mate, your room is the best.
Okay so week one, the room light is totally unplugged.
What have you got there Leo?
Boy 3: A sticker saying mummy turn off the light.
Parents (individually): Why?
**Boy 3:**Because you always leave on the light.
Parents (individually): Because mummy always leaves them on. Thanks guys, you've got full trust in me.
Anish shall we put the solar lights in our garden so that it gives a light and also we're not using any electricity?
Boy 1: Yes, that's a great idea.
Parents (individually): These two are going behind me, they put labels on all the switches and I still was not turning them…
Boy 3: Shall I go turn your room light off?
Parents (individually): You can go turn it off now if you like. See it's like my bedroom light's on now, right?
We monitored our smart meter like a hawk and as soon as it jumped up like a quid in the day I'm like, right what's been going on?
So we put some solar lights around the garden and we're not doing anything there, nature does everything.
Make a draught excluder snake - activity
Download the step-by-step activity - in partnership with Planet League. document
Draught-proofing your house can help you save energy and money. Why not try making your own draft excluder snake? It’s the perfect activity to do with children when it’s too cold outside!
Make a difference
Discover more about the planet and how to protect it with the BBC.
Six easy ways to be environmentally friendly
THE REGENERATORS
Renewable energy in Tasmania
BBC TEACH
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