Big questions: What is energy saving?

Recently, EggEgg has taken on the task of flicking on all the light switches at evening, by riding to each switch location and standing on top of his trike seat. However, he gets over-enthusiastic with his new role. This morning, he has turned on all the lights in the house even in broad daylight.

"EggEgg, you shouldn't turn on the lights when its day time."

"Why, Mami?" (The default response for everything. Much like the "No, no" from Cola.)

"Because it is wasteful. You see, all these lights uses electricity. Just like how the TV uses electricity, the fridge uses electricity, the computer uses electricity..."

EggEgg nodded, for he could fully understand that electricity comes out of power sockets and it is dangerous to poke about those places.

"And you see, electricity cost money!"

EggEgg's eyes suddenly grew bigger.

"Electricity cost money? Why?"

"Because remember I told you before? We "borrow" this house from Uncle Malcolm [our landlord], and Daddy has to pay him rent every month? Same with electricity. The electricity uncle will ask Daddy for money each month. If we use a lot of electricity, like turning on the lights all the time, then the electricity uncle will ask for more money from daddy."

"And would you like Daddy to give more money to the electrical man? Or would you rather Daddy save up the money and use it for other fun stuff like buying an air ticket to Japan and Disneyland, or going to the zoo?

"... and Wiggles World!", EggEgg reminded me. Obviously this kid really wants to go to Gold Coast again.

"Yes and Wiggles World too. So what should we do?"

"We should not waste electricity. At night, we turn on the lights."

"That's my good boy. You know, it's the same with water too. Sometimes when you wash your hands, you took a very long time and turn on the water really "big"? That wastes a lot of water and there is also a water uncle asking Daddy for money."

"So we shouldn't waste water, waste electricity, ok?"

EggEgg fully understood the implications. "... then Daddy can save all the money for Disneyland!"