Actionable Environmental Impacts at Home
Swap common household devices to curb your carbon footprint
FAMILY FEATURES
In every room of your home , you ’ ll likely find numer ous devices , appliances and fixtures that rely on the electric grid for power . Collectively , they affect your carbon footprint more than you may realize . Converting to lower carbon alternatives can help you be a better steward for the environment while reducing your reliance on electricity .
“ As a father , husband , home builder and real estate agent , I think it ’ s important to make smart choices for a cleaner today and greener tomorrow ,” said Matt Blashaw , residential contractor , licensed real estate agent and host of HGTV ’ s “ Build it Forward .” “ We all want to be good stewards of the Earth . I want people to think beyond planting a tree or recycling . The time is right now to choose a diverse , low-carbon energy mix to power our homes and businesses .”
Consider these environmentally friendly upgrades from Blashaw and the experts at the Propane Education & Research Council ( PERC ) to help decarbonize Earth :
Smart Thermostats
Programmable thermostats and smart plugs don ’ t conserve electricity on their own , but they help you become more aware of your energy consumption and adapt your usage to avoid waste . The introduction of programmable thermostats made it possible to adjust the temperature in your home when you ’ re not there or when you are sleeping .
Some smart thermostats take those adjustments even further by learning your household habits and adjusting the temperature to accommodate your usage patterns . You can also make adjustments remotely , and some models allow you to control specific zones or rooms independently so you ’ re only using the energy you really need . When combined with low-carbon , efficient HVAC units , smart thermostats can help lessen the impact on the planet .
Motion Sensors
Like programmable thermostats and smart plugs , motion sensors help manage your energy usage . Motion sensors ensure you ’ re only drawing electricity to illuminate a space when it ’ s in use or when the light quality falls below a certain threshold . You may be in the habit of turning on a switch when you enter a room whether you need the extra light or not . Relying on a sensor reduces the waste associated with that routine and helps ensure lights are turned off when they may otherwise be forgotten in an empty room .
Continued on page 10 .
6 Big Bend Real Estate Guide • June 2022