More than perhaps any other form of energy, electricity has a huge impact on our daily lives. Electricity is something we�ve come to rely on, something we often take for granted. We don�t stop and think about where it comes from, how it works, or how and why it should be conserved. 

This is where the Internet, a valuable educational resource, enters the picture. If you want to be environmentally responsible and save money on your electric bill, here are some very informative energy-related websites worth checking out.

Energy Hog

www.energyhog.org

They�re everywhere � in your homes, at work, and in schools. They�re wasting energy and costing you hundreds of dollars every year. This is a great website dedicated to �energy hogs� and the ongoing quest to stop them from reducing energy efficiency. On the website�s landing page, there is a link for adults and a link for children. The adult section contains a wide variety of energy-efficiency resources and information to help you bust energy hogs wherever you are.

But the website�s gem is found within its children�s section. Here, you�ll find an interactive Energy-Busters game that helps kids learn how to �beat those nasty oinkers.� They can scroll over different rooms in the home to discover ways to �bust some energy pigs� and stop them from �pigging out� on power. There�s also a fun energy-hog scavenger hunt (called �hog-and-seek�). Once kids complete the games successfully, they become �Official Hog Busters.�

With tons of cute photos, this website gets its message across easily to all ages (improving energy efficiency by spotting energy hogs). Scout around the website and you�re sure to find something that appeals to you.

Energy Quest

www.energyquest.ca.gov

Energy Quest is an energy education website of the California Energy Commission, and is very kid-friendly. Electricity conservation is explained in a way that any kid can understand. There are also a number of electricity-focused games for young children to play on this website.

The U.S. Dept. of Energy

www.energy.gov

The Department of Energy�s overarching mission is to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States; to promote scientific and technological innovation in support of that mission; and to ensure the environmental cleanup of the national nuclear weapons complex. The Department�s strategic goals to achieve the mission are designed to deliver results along five strategic themes: energy security, nuclear security, scientific discovery, environmental responsibility, and management excellence. For information on anything relating to energy, this is a must-go website.

ENERGY STAR

www.energystar.gov

You�ve probably heard of the popular ENERGY STAR label, most often linked to purchasing appliances and products that help make your home more energy efficient. The label was designed to help make it easy for consumers to identify and purchase energy-efficient products that can save on energy bills. But there�s much more to ENERGY STAR. First, it is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect the climate through energy efficiency. You can find information on ENERGY STAR products, but you can also find answers to many common questions on how to achieve superior energy efficiency in your home or business. With the Home Energy Yardstick (link is on landing page), you can quickly assess the energy efficiency of your home and see how it measures up. There�s also information on Federal tax credits for energy efficiency, as well as a colorful section of the website dedicated to helping kids learn how to become �energy stars.�

Energize Efficiently

www.energizeefficiently.coop

In Virginia, Maryland and Delaware, electric cooperatives provide services to people in the region�s rural areas and emerging suburbs. Cooperatives have long been deeply involved in their communities and today many cooperatives have expanded their efforts to meet whatever needs exist in their service area. This website is provided to you by the collective efforts of these cooperatives. Calculate your home energy use with easy-to-use tools, learn how to use energy efficiently, and stay up-to-date on current events relating to energy-efficiency.