Department of Energy Compels Kids to Lose Their Excuse

To make kids act more energy-smart, the Department of Energy launched Lose Your Excuse, a painfully cute website* that encourages engagement and boasts a 10-step energy "action plan" to download.

Two quirky little ads drive traffic in its direction. Each features a kid getting caught in a lie about why s/he hasn't become more energy efficient. (I know that vibes like the Spanish Inquisition, but the execution is feel-good and funny).

"Malcolm": "This isn't my room. It's Baron Davis's."** Yeah ... that excuse never works for us either.

"April": "That's not my charger. I don't even have a cell phone." Cute how she's at the age where she can say that and still be semi-believed. By the time she's 13, no one will believe her if she claims not to own a phone.

The lessons are straightforward enough: use more energy-friendly lightbulbs, and unplug chargers when you're not using them. You knew that, right?

---

*We like the ambient space noise.

**What's that? Smells like ... a cameo.