STEP 2:
With all our gadgets, we Americans use a lot of energy. Each
of us uses more than 20 times the amount of energy used by
the average person in India, China, or Africa. Most of this
energy use is for essential things -- like lights,
refrigeration, transportation, and heating. But plenty of our
energy use is not. It is either used for non-essential items
or gets wasted through inefficient use. A badly insulated
home requires far more heating than a well-insulated one.
To begin this activity, find out how much energy you actually
use -- at home and on the road. A good place to start is the
utility bill -- that is, the bill for electricity and gas.
Ask your parents to show you the utility bill for your home.
Remember, energy use changes with the weather. Try to get a
bill from the winter and another from the summer. Next, find
out how much gas your family uses on the road. If your family
owns a car, ask your parents to estimate their annual
gasoline bill.
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Early New York