Game On! Turn Resolutions Into Energy-Saving Results

Energy efficiency doesn’t have to be a solo effort. It can be a fun, collective challenge that brings your household together. 

As we kick off a new year, make energy efficiency more than a resolution; reframe it into a family game that builds habits that benefit your home, your budget and the environment.

“Let’s go!” replied my 8-year-old when I first introduced the idea of a family energy challenge for 2026. “Do I get a treat if I do a good job?” 

“I only want to do things in the kitchen because I like to eat,” said my 4-year-old. 

Since my kids thrive on routines, goals (and snacks), we’re turning our energy-saving journey into some healthy competition, hoping to encourage others to do the same.  

To track my family’s progress, we’ll have weekly check-ins where we talk about the actions we’ve taken. My husband and I will also keep track of our usage on our monthly bills. We’ll try to keep the system simple so it’s easy to maintain. 

The reward? We’ve chosen extra privileges. At the end of each month, we’ll decide who gets to choose the next family movie, meal, or stay up 30 minutes past their usual bedtime.

This section highlights how energy efficiency can become a fun, shared family activity rather than an individual chore. As the new year approaches, turn energy-saving efforts into a family game that creates lasting habits benefiting the household, budget and environment. By making the process engaging — through routines, competition and rewards like extra privileges — every family member, including children, is motivated to participate. Progress is tracked with weekly check-ins and monthly bill reviews, making the challenge easy and enjoyable for everyone.

Some of the ways we’re turning energy efficiency into a family sport instead of a chore include:

• Clean-up countdown: Set a five-minute timer, lather up, and shut the water off when the timer hits zero. A short shower or bath saves gallons, hot water and money on your energy bill. Safety Setting: keep your water heater at 120 degrees to save energy, money and prevent scalding.

• Car-free day: Choose a day to walk, ride, bike, or take the bus to work or school. 

• Power down hour: Spend one device-free hour. Our goal is to do this twice a week. No phones, gadgets or TV. Use the time to play a game, get outside or read a book instead. 

• Thermostat tempo: Keep your thermostat on a steady schedule and temperature. Agree to check before you change the temperature – and only shift 1-2 degrees at a time to avoid big spikes in usage and monthly bills.

• Creative cooks: Make one meal a week with energy efficient appliances like a crockpot or air fryer to reduce energy use and save money. According to the California Energy Commission, 31% of typical household energy use is from kitchen appliances. My family recently bought an air fryer, so we’re excited to test out some new recipes.

• Lights out: Turn off lights when you leave the room. This one is especially hard for my kids!

• Phantom finders: Unplug devices and gadgets once fully charged or not in use to prevent energy vampires from draining monthly bills. 

In 2026, commit to something that gets easier with practice, saves you money and gives your kids habits they can use in the future.  While resolutions come and go, my family is hoping the ones we tackle together can have staying power.

About the author

 Adrienne Moore joined PG&E’s Marketing and Communications team in 2023. A busy mom of two boys, she is passionate about helping customers save energy and money, sharing energy efficiency tips and tools, and making bill support programs easy to understand and accessible for all. Her goal is to ensure customers feel supported when managing their energy needs.