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Written By: Agencies | Published : July 13, 2016 10:30 AM IST
Girl Scouts and their parents have reported increase in energy-saving behaviours after the children participated in an intervention programme, revealed a study. According to the study published in the journal 'Nature Energy', the researchers found that the increased energy-saving behaviour continued for more than seven months after the trial programme ended. The study also suggested that these kinds of educational programmes could have a significant and lasting impact on family's energy consumption. They also found that the intervention had an effect on parents' energy-saving behaviour for more than eight months. Children are a critical audience for environmental programmes, because their current behaviour likely predicts future behaviour. By adopting energy-saving behaviours now and engaging family and community members in such efforts, children can play an important role in bringing about a more sustainable future, said Hilary Boudet, Assistant Professor, Oregon State University. (Read: A kid s brain needs double the energy as that of an adult brain)
For the study, the researchers developed a programme called Girls Learning Environment and Energy (GLEE) which offered two interventions designed to promote energy-saving behaviours either at home or in food and transportation decisions. Using a randomized control trial, the 318 participating girls, all fourth- and fifth-graders were randomly assigned to one of the programmes. In 50 to 60-minute lessons once a week for five weeks, the Girl Scouts learned about different ways to save energy in their assigned intervention group and participated in activities designed to support the lessons. (Read: 12 superfoods that boost immunity in children)
The researchers estimated that the reported behaviour changes associated with the home energy savings intervention represent an annual household energy savings of approximately 3-5 per cent immediately following the intervention and 1-3 per cent at follow-up. Girls participating in the food and transportation intervention also reported a significant increase in energy-saving behaviour at the end of the programme, but there was no significant change noted at the seven-month follow-up or among parents. (Read: Can raising kids be bad for your immune system?)
Source: IANS
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