Ah, Pops, always barking at you to turn lights off (or was that the dog?). Whether or not your dad taught you to save electricity, these gift ideas can help you wish him a happy Father's Day.
1. BBQ it up. Not only does it scream "It's summer, people!" but grilling can save Dad money on air conditioning, since it doesn't heat up your house like the oven does. The greenest grills are electric, followed by propane and natural gas. Those'll give you better air quality than charcoal or wood and cook food more efficiently, according to the Daily Green.
2. Water-powered clock. Pour water and a squirt of lemon juice into this desk clock, and it runs for 12 weeks, no batteries needed. How zany is that? At $16, it's not too spendy, either.
3. E-readers. No bones about it, electronic readers don't have that great musty book smell, and it's tricky to suss out whether they're greener than books. But if your dad churns through paperbacks, it might be something to consider—some even use solar panels!
4. Efficient lighting. These simple, classy solar yard lights can give the backyard a gentle glow while saving on the electric bill. Or my dad is wild about the LED lights he swapped into his car—they're bright and have a steely blue glow that says, "I am cooler than you and saving energy at the same time."
5. Tandem biking. Rent a tandem bike for a few hours for some gas- and pollution-free quality time with your dad. (Plus, they're so gosh-darn cute!)
6. Get cranking. A hand-crank cell phone charger and flashlight duo can be a handy backup energy source. Toss it in his briefcase, backpack, or trunk so you can sleep at night.
7. DIY solar golf cart. If your dad fits the golfer stereotype to a tee (har har), so much so that he owns his own cart (!), consider converting it to run on solar power with a DIY solar roof kit.
8. Let 'im nap. An entire book could be written about the energy-saving qualities of sleeping. Plus, nothing says "Dad, I want to protect you from [energy] vampires" like sneaking around pixie-like and plugging his appliances into power strips.
Happy Father's Day!
--Holly
Image source: woodleywonderworks via Flickr