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Kids' Corner

Would you like to turn "The Big Apple" GREEN?

New York City is known as "The Big Apple." With a little energy conservation from everyone, we can turn it into the "Big GREEN Apple"!

All together, the five boroughs of New York City have over 8 million people - and each one can make a difference in conserving energy and contributing to a clean and green city ... especially YOU! Here's a great way to start: Just read the interesting energy conservation facts you'll find on this page ... maybe do one of our fun recycling projects, try our Energy Conservation Word Search puzzle or color a picture ... and then print out and complete the "Big GREEN Apple" certificate.

We are all residents of Planet Earth

Whether you live in The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens or Staten Island, everyone in New York City lives at one address: Planet Earth. The earth is filled with all kinds of precious resources - oceans, lakes, rivers, forests, mountains, and all kinds of living creatures that inhabit them. As residents of Planet Earth, we want to do whatever we can to keep it beautiful. Recycling trash, walking or taking the subway instead of driving, and using a cloth bag to carry groceries home are all ways to help keep the earth beautiful.

One important way to be kind to the earth is to use less energy. All of us use energy every day - for heating and cooling homes, lighting, manufacturing and entertainment. The choices we make about how we use energy have an effect on the earth and our lives.

Using less energy is called conservation, and using energy more wisely is called efficiency. Energy conservation is anything we do to use less energy, such as turning off the lights when you leave a room or recycling newspapers. Energy efficiency is using technology that requires less energy to perform the same function - for example, replacing an incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), or replacing or upgrading your home's boiler or furnace with one that use less energy.

10 Things You Can Do to Save Energy and Help the Earth

1. Walk or use public transportation whenever possible
   

2. Recycle glass, paper, plastic and aluminum items
   
3. Turn off the lights and electronics when not in use
   
4. Take a shower instead of a bath to conserve water
   
5. Turn the water off while you brush your teeth
   
6. Plant and harvest a community vegetable garden with your class or neighbors
   
7. Carry a reusable water bottle instead of using plastic water bottles
   
8. When you go grocery shopping with your parents, take along a reusable shopping bag
   instead of using the store's plastic bags
   
9. Use both sides of a piece of paper before throwing it away
   
10. Don't leave doors to the outside open longer than necessary

10 Cool Things You Can Make from Recycled Objects

1. Turn old newspapers or wrapping paper into book covers.
   
2. Create puppets or pet toys out of old socks.
   

3. Make musical instruments out of old bottles and jars.
   
4. Turn an old egg carton into a space to hold jewelry or small toys.
   
5. Create a make-believe spyglass or binoculars from old cardboard tubes.
   
6. Turn old puzzle pieces into a wreath for your front door.
   
7. Make magazine holders from old cereal boxes.
   
8. Turn ice cream pop sticks into placemats.
   
9. Create pillows out of old T-shirts.
   
10. Turn just about anything - CDs and DVDs, old game pieces or used
    Metro Cards - into refrigerator magnets.

"Big GREEN Apple" Word Search Puzzle

Find the following words having to do with energy conservation in New York City. You may look up, down, diagonally and backwards. Click anywhere on the puzzle to print it out.

ENERGY STAR® House

Does your family save energy or waste energy? Do you leave lights on when you leave a room or do you switch them off? Have fun exploring our virtual ENERGY STAR® House and learn how you and your family can conserve energy in your home!

Coloring Pages

Click on one of the pictures below to get a full-size picture you can have fun coloring in. What do these pictures mean when it comes to energy and conservation?

Congratulations! You've Earned Your "Big GREEN Apple" Certificate!

All you have to do now is click on the certificate below, add your name and today's date, print it out ... and show everyone that you're turning the Big Apple into the Big GREEN Apple!