If you want your children to grow up in a world where polar bears and penguins have a home, you need to be mindful of the environment. It’s no secret that the ice caps are melting and that soon enough, if we don’t change our ways, they, along with our furry friends, will be gone for good.

Being a little greener is, believe it or not, much easier than you would think. There are plenty of simple things you can do to make yourself, your home, and your family more eco-friendly.  To help you with this, I thought I would share a few useful tips and ideas, here:

Involve the whole family

Get the entire family together and explain that you need to do more to help the environment. Children can sometimes find it hard to understand how important being eco-friendly is. That's why it's vital that you explain properly and answer their questions as best you can. 

If you have a look online, you should find plenty of children’s books about being eco-friendly. Or, you could consider getting them a DVD that explains everything that they need to know. Teaching your kids about the importance of living a greener lifestyle really is crucial. 

Swap those bulbs

Invest in low-energy light bulbs and swap all of your normal lights for them. Switching from normal light bulbs to these can make a massive difference to how much energy your home uses, so it’s definitely worth it.

Did you know that as well as bulbs, you can also get low-energy night lights for children? If your child likes to sleep with a night light on, swap to a low-energy one.

Turn down your thermostat

Trust me on this, turning down your thermostat by a couple of degrees won’t be noticeable. However, in terms of saving energy, it will make a big difference.

It’s also important that if your water heater isn’t insulated, that you get it insulated. You can pay a contractor to do this, or you can wrap it in an insulation blanket yourself. Just make sure not to cover any vents if you choose to wrap your boiler yourself.

Switch to solar

If you can afford it, consider switching to solar power instead of traditional energy. Yes, having solar panels installed won’t come cheap. However, the fact that your carbon footprint will be reduced, as will your spending, makes it worth the investment.

Should you do decide to get solar panels installed, make sure to be choosy about the company that you go with. Shop around and aim to find the best option; a company that comes highly recommended is Euro Solar, so make sure to visit their website.

Turn it off, don’t leave it on standby

Take the time to teach your children about the importance of turning electronics off, instead of leaving them on standby. Simply by turning off appliances when not in use, you can save a large amount of energy. Not only will this help to save the polar bears, but it will also save you money.

Using a marble jar is a great way to ensure that your kids turn off appliances and lights when leaving a room. Every time your child turns off an appliance or light when leaving the room, allow them to put a marble in their jar. Each time they leave something on, instead of turning it off, make them take a marble out of their jar. Once the jar is full to the brim with marbles, explain to your child that they will get a prize.

Take note of these tips and ideas, and you can ensure that the polar bears and penguins will be around for years to come.