You don’t need solar panels on your roof or a wind turbine in your front yard to use energy sustainably. Here are some ways you can use less electricity and natural gas by harnessing the power of the sun and wind:

• Sit close to a window or somewhere with lots of natural light when you are reading or doing homework, so you don’t have to switch on a light.
• Hang your wet towel outside after your shower or bath, so energy from the wind and sun can dry it.
• Dry your clothing on an outdoor clothesline, or on a drying rack in a warm or sunny indoor spot, so you don’t have to use the clothes dryer.
• Open shades and curtains so sunlight can warm your home when it’s cold outside. Keep that heat in by shutting the curtains and shades at night.
• Find a sunny indoor spot where you can play in the winter instead of turning on the heat.
• Ask your family to plant trees that lose their leaves in winter along south- and west-facing walls. (These walls face the sun’s path through the sky during the day.) In summer, the leafy trees will shade your home, reducing the need for air conditioning. In winter, bare branches will let the warm sun shine through, helping to heat your home.