Earn the Energy Merit Badge; Save Energy in the Process

More than 100 Boy Scouts from the National Capital Area Council recently gathered at the U.S. Department of Energy’s headquarters building in Washington, D.C., to earn their Energy merit badges.

Employees from the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration served as counselors, teaching Scouts about energy and letting the boys get their hands on real energy-using devices.

Before they even showed up at the event, the Scouts had to spend 14 days looking around their own homes, figuring out ways people were using energy, and coming up with ways they could be more energy efficient. A few ideas:

• Instead of using a clothes dryer, hang your clothes outside.

• Don’t turn on lights during the day.

• Walk instead of driving, when possible.

• Take shorter showers.

Click here for more energy-saving ideas.