From the CTKG Cabinet: Leave a Room, Leave It Off

Hi Everyone, 

It's Cora from the CTKG Cabinet and today we are going to learn and talk about some of the steps you can start to take after learning how to create a Green Team in your school (check out my blog post about Green Teams!). Once you've created your Green Team in your school or community, it is time to take the next step! This step is going to focus on the kinds of actions you can take and the third point of my platform: Leave a Room, Leave It Off. 

This point of my platform is all about energy efficiency and saving electricity by doing simple every day tasks. These tasks could include using energy efficient lightbulbs or appliances, shutting off devices when they are not in use, or even just turning the lights off when you leave a room. A lot of people may think that they always do these three things, but in a normal busy day we tend to forget about these actions a lot. There also may be people out there who think doing these things may not benefit them in a way that matters. The less electricity you use though, the cleaner the air you breathe is and the cheaper your electric bill will be. It is kind of a win-win!

What if you don't know how to put these ideas into action at your school? Well, I've got you covered! Often times, it is the simplest actions that are the most effective and, in this case, it is as easy a flick of a switch. To remind people to turn off the lights when leaving a room, you can use my poster below! Ask a teacher or principal for permission to print out and hang these signs up by every light switch in your school so that students and teachers will always remember to turn off the lights. It really is that simple!

Want to do even more to save energy? When I was in elementary school, all students were able to get an energy efficient desk lamp and power strip to reduce the amount of energy we used at home. I still use those two things today! Students in my elementary school class also made posters about how to be an energy saver. These are just some ideas you can try in your school and beyond! Work with members of your school and Green Team to do what will work best in your school. The point is to remind people that small actions make a difference. So remember to take action, no matter what it is you may do.

Don't stop there though! No matter the time of year, it is important to stay active in helping the environment, whether or not that is the theme of your monthly initiative. This weekend, I helped a group of students do a trash clean up (that's me with my dad in the picture) and helped sort recyclable bottles as a fundraiser. I also helped to do volunteer work at the nature center, Earthplace, in Westport, CT. No matter when it is or where you are, do your best to always go green!

Thank you for reading another one of my CTKG blogs! I'll be back for another blog and update soon. Thank you!

-Cora Aitkenhead
Kid Governor's Cabinet
Meadowside Elementary School
Milford, CT