Engee's Kids - Engee in Action

Engee's Kids

	Engee's Energy Pages
	Engee In Action
	It's a Gas - the Natural Gas Story
	Engee's Energy Lab
	Cool Links
	Games & Stuff
	Engee's Joke Box
	Contact Engee
	Sign Up

	Print

As you may have guessed, Engee spends a lot of time thinking about energy and ways to use energy more efficiently. If we use energy wisely, there will enough left for future generation to enjoy.

Depending on the season - spring, summer, winter or fall - Engee is busy with a different energy efficiency project. Keep reading to learn what Engee is busy with in spring and summer.

How to build a compost bin

Compost is a mixture of recycled vegetable material – including food waste, paper and leaves. When combined, the materials develop naturally over time into a mineral rich mix that’s great for gardens.

Engee

You can recycle leaves and other plant materials at home by setting up a compost bin. Select a spot to set up your bin. It should be out of the way, but convenient to reach with plenty of room to work around. Some good places would be near your garden or the back corner of the yard. Choose a location that’s close to a garden hose.

Compost requires an even mix of brown stuff and green stuff. It also needs air and water to live and work. Mix together and you will have compost!

The brown stuff is dead, dried plant parts like leaves and pine needles as well as newspaper and sawdust. This is high in the element carbon.

Green stuff is fresh, living parts like grass clippings, kitchen vegetable scraps, weeds and other plants. This is high in the element nitrogen.

Keep milk and meat products out of your mix. Pets and other animals may try to dig them up out of your compost bin. Also don't use diseased garden plants, pet droppings, fats or oils.

Build a compost bin in layers. Start by spreading a layer of leaves or pine needles about 6 inches thick. Next, add a layer of grass clippings a few inches thick. Now mix the layers together.

Sprinkle a shovelful of good dark soil to the mix. This adds micro organisms to the bin. Each layer then needs a good sprinkling of water. Wet each layer as you build it. Keep adding layers until the bin is full. The micro organisms will go to work breaking down the ingredients into humus.

Use the humus to fertilize your garden in the spring.

Make your home energy efficient this winter

Winter is around the corner and the cold weather will soon be here. Is your home ready for winter?

First, grab a pen and a pad of paper. Your assignment: walk through your home and identify where energy efficiency can be improved. Ask your parents to participate!

An energy efficient home is more comfortable. No more drafts, cold floors or leaky windows.

Second, the less energy you use, the more money you can save. And that will make everyone in your family smile.

Let’s begin by looking for cracks in the caulking or worn weather stripping around windows, door trim and baseboards. Make a note if new trim or caulking is needed.

Drafts around windows and doors are a problem. Heat escapes and cold air moves in. You can help mom and dad insulate around windows and doors. Easy-to-use insulation kits are available at hardware and department stores.

See any spider webs? Webs are a sure sign of a draft. Take note and fix it later.

Count how many electrical outlets you have on exterior walls. Have your parents install foam gaskets to keep cold air out during winter months. Once again, you can find foam gaskets at the local hardware store.

Is your thermostat programmable? Ask your parents. If possible, program it to drop by at least three degrees when you are not at home and while you are sleeping.

Are your floor registers, return air grills and hot water radiators clear of rugs, furniture, drapes, etc? If not, remind your mom or dad that you can create a better airflow by moving these items out of the way.

Finally, remind your mom or dad to clean or replace furnace and air conditioner filters regularly during the year.

Spectra Energy Home