Energy Elf Game (Text Version)

This is the text version for the Energy Elf game. You must have Adobe Flash to play this game. Download Adobe Flash Player.

In the game's introduction screen, the Power Gobblin'—a giant blue monster with pulsing antennae and a long blue snout—pounces on homes in a city. After he latches onto them, he sucks the energy out of the homes, causing their energy to flicker. His nose and fingers glow as he sucks energy.

The game instructions appear. The Power Gobblin' is sucking energy out of the instruction panel, while the Energy Elf, a young boy in orange and brown clothing, with large ears and a lightning-bolt shaped haircut, looks concerned. The text reads:

The Power Gobblin' is Gobblin' all the energy!

Help the Energy Elf save his house from the Power Gobblin'!

Make this home more energy efficient! Explore the house by moving your mouse to the right, left, up, or down, and click on each of the items that could be helping to save energy. Don't feed the Power Gobblin'! Watch him shrink as you find more items.

And the more quickly you do it, the better! Try to find all the items before time runs out.

Good luck!

Discover how YOU can make a difference! Play the game.

The game takes place inside the Energy Elf's home. The Energy Elf stands on the right side of the screen, gesturing in concern towards his home. The Power Gobblin' stands on the left side, rubbing his hands together. Occasionally, the giant eyes of the Power Gobblin' swoop by the windows at the back of the home.

There are four different rooms in the Energy Elf's home, spread across two floors. By dragging the mouse to the left or right of the current scene, you can move to different rooms.

The kitchen has a sink set in a broad countertop, a refrigerator, and a washer and dryer in the corner. The living room has pink and burgundy striped wallpaper, and a couch and a table set beneath a large window with curtains. A lamp sits on the table, and a phone charger is plugged into a charger on the far side of the wall. The upstairs hallway leads to the entertainment room. The bedroom is covered with star-patterned blue wallpaper, and contains a bed with blue star-patterned covers and a computer. A large window at the back of the room has purple curtains covered in crescent moons.

The Windows
Time for some home repairs!
Talk to your parents about home improvements.

Heating and cooling needs can be reduced by up to 10% by investing in proper insulation and sealing air leaks. Talk to your parents about what could be done around your home to improve its energy efficiency.

This window feels drafty. No wonder, it's got a crack in it. Replace the window with a new energy efficient one.

There are several windows in the house. When you find the second window, you receive this message:

Use natural light and heat!

Nothing in your home consumes more energy than its heating and cooling system.

Ever notice how warm it can be near the window on a sunny day, even in the winter? Leaving blinds open can reduce the amount of work your home's heater has to do, and if you want to stay cool in the summer, it helps to keep them closed.

It may be chilly outside, but the sun will feel warm in here. Open all the drapes in the house.

The third window in the home gives this message:

Nothing in your home consumes more energy than its heating and cooling system.

Ever notice how warm it can be near the window on a sunny day? Leaving the blinds open can reduce the amount of work your home's heater has to do, and if you want to stay cool in the summer, it helps to keep them closed.

It may be chilly outside, but the sun will feel warm in here. Open all the drapes in the house.

The Refrigerator, Washer, and Dryer
Look for the Energy Star logo!

The appliances and electronics in your house are responsible for about 20% of your home's total energy bill. More energy efficient appliances mean more savings.

When it's time to buy new appliances, talk to your parents about looking for the Energy Star label. To receive this label, appliances must meet strict energy-efficiency guidelines.

It's time for some new appliances. Upgrade with the Energy Star.

The Lamp
Use energy-saving bulbs!

New energy-saving light bulbs—called compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs for short—will use about 25% less energy than the old ones. And they last up to 10 times longer!

Use a CFL to replace the old bulb.

The Lights
Turn off the lights!

The lights in most homes add up to almost 15% of their total electricity use. Turning the lights off when not in use is one really simple way to become more energy efficient.

Turning the lights off when not in use is one really simple way to become more energy efficient.

There's no one home. Turn off all 4 lights.

There are four lights in the home, and all four need to be turned off. After the first one, the three other lights give this message:

Turn off the lights!
The lights in most homes add up to 15% of their total electricity use.

Turning the lights off when not in use is one really simple way to become more energy efficient.

The Phone Charger
Unplug your cell phone charger!

Most chargers—even when they aren't connected to a device—draw 5-20 times more power than is needed to maintain a charge. And cell phone chargers are one of the biggest culprits—think of how much time they just sit there all alone, wasting energy.

This phone is all charged up. Unless it is actively charging a device, unplug cell phone and other chargers.

The Thermostat
Program the thermostat!

Talk to your parents about programmable thermostats.

Your home's heating and cooling system is controlled by a thermostat which regulates temperature. By turning it back a few degrees while everyone's asleep or away, you can easily save energy. Talk to your parents about using a programmable thermostat to do this automatically.

Everyone will be warm under their blankets. Program the thermostat to go down a few degrees at night.

The Computer
Shut off the computer!

If you step away from the computer, and won't be using it again for at least 2 hours, it's best to shut it off. It uses less energy to start a computer than to let it run for a long period of time, even if it's in sleep mode.

No one will be using this computer all day. Make sure it's shut off and not just asleep.

The Computer Power Strip
Use power strips!

Many appliances that remain plugged in—such as TVs and computers—continue to use a small amount of energy even when they're shut off! The effect is called "phantom energy." Spooky.

But when you plug these devices into a power strip, you can easily cut the power to all of them at once by switching off the strip. Good save!

This computer is shut off. Prevent "phantom" energy and switch off the power strip too.

The Home Entertainment System
Turn off the DVD player!

When electronic devices such as DVD players and video game systems are left in standby mode, they continue to use electricity. Over time, all that wasted power can really add up.

No one is home to watch any movies. Turn off the DVD player.

If you fail to find all the items in time, you get an image of the Power Gobblin', smiling, and the following message:

Nice work, but...
...There are still some items remaining. Play again and try to find them all!

Did you recognize anything you could do in your own house? Help lead the way and talk to your parents about making your home more energy efficient!

If you succeed, you get an image of the Energy Elf, his arms spread wide as he smiles.

Great Job!
You've made this home much more energy efficient and even got rid of the Power Gobblin'.

Did you recognize anything you could do in your own house? Help lead the way and talk to your parents about making your home more energy efficient!