“As a father of four, a husband, a home builder, and an agent in real estate, I believe it’s important for us to make smart decisions for a cleaner tomorrow.” Matt Blashawa residential contractor, licensed agent in real estate, and host of HGTV’s “Build It Forward.” “All of us want to be good stewards for the Earth. I want people think beyond recycling or planting trees. It is now the right time to choose a diverse and low-carbon energy mix for 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
Smart plugs and thermostats don’t save electricity by themselves, but they can help you be more aware of your energy usage and adjust your usage to reduce waste. Programmable thermostats have made it possible to adjust the temperature of your home even when you’re not there.
Smart thermostats make it easier to adjust the temperature by learning your habits and adapting to your needs. Remote adjustments can be made, and some models can control specific rooms or zones independently to ensure you only use the energy you need. Smart thermostats can be combined with low-carbon and efficient HVAC units to reduce our impact on the environment.
Motion Sensors
Motion sensors, like smart plugs and programmable thermostats, help you manage your energy consumption. Motion sensors ensure that you are only using electricity to lighten a space when it is being used or when the lighting quality falls below a predetermined threshold. You might be used to turning on a light switch whenever you enter a room. A sensor helps reduce waste and ensures lights are turned off in empty rooms.
Appliances
You might be surprised at the difference switching appliances to another energy source can make. According to PERC, propane appliances produce less greenhouse gases and are more efficient than those powered by electric appliances. Propane dryers can dry clothes faster than electric dryers and produce 42% less greenhouse gases. They dry clothes faster than electric dryers. The moist heat is gentler on fabrics, and can even help relax wrinkles.
Propane-powered cooking stoves also produce 15% less greenhouse gases than electric ones. Additionally, they can be controlled for heat levels and have greater control. Their instant flame turnoff capabilities allow them to cool quicker than electric stoves which can remain dangerously warm after they have been turned off.
Energy-Efficient Windows
Windows can be responsible for almost one-third the energy loss in your home, especially if they have poor or older condition. Even windows in good shape can lead to energy loss if they have only one pane or air leaks around them. It can be expensive to upgrade to double- and triple-pane windows, but more cost-effective options like weatherstripping or caulking can reduce window-related energy losses. You can also use window treatments such as blinds, curtains, awnings and plant vegetation to reduce the impact of your windows on your energy consumption.
Tankless Water Heaters
Traditional water heaters keep a tank of heated water at any given time. It is inefficient and wasteful to heat and reheat the same water over and again. Tankless water heaters heat the water when you need it. This cuts down on energy consumption and saves you money. It heats water at the right temperature for you, so you don’t have any worries about running out. You can also save even more by changing your water heater’s source of energy. According to PERC, switching from an electric storage water heater to a propane tankless water heater can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 1 ton per year. This is the same amount as driving a car for more than 3,000 miles.
Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans can be seen as design elements or comfort features. However, they also play an important role in your home’s energy consumption. The air moving through the room is cooler than the still air. This allows for the air to feel fresher and more comfortable. A smart ceiling fan will help you save money by being able to schedule the fan to work with your daily routines, rather than wasting energy by circulating air when you aren’t using it.
Solar Panels
Although harnessing the sun’s power is often considered the best use of renewable energy it can be expensive to install enough panels for a home to generate enough electricity. Many homeowners find it easier to offset their energy consumption than to replace it entirely. Other measures, such as updating windows or installing propane appliances, can reduce the energy required by the solar panels. This makes it a more practical option for the environment.
Blashaw stated, “The more diverse America’s energy mix is the more reliable it will be.” “Propane can be used in conjunction with renewable energy sources such as on-site solar power to create an efficient, clean, and reliable energy mix for all Americans and accelerate decarbonization.”
Get more low-carbon options for your home at Propane.com.
Put Propane Power into Practice
Propane, an approved clean-oil alternative fuel under the Clean Air Act is a low carbon energy source that produces significantly less greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline, diesel and electricity in a wide range if applications. This can help Americans reach their environmental goals fairly and economically. These low-carbon facts from PERC are great for your family.
- Propane, a versatile alternative fuel, is used in more than 12 million U.S. homes for residential uses such as home heating, fireplaces water heaters, cooktops, and whole-home power backup.
- America’s farmers rely on propane not only to power their homes, but also to run their businesses. Propane can be used to irrigate the fields, dry crops, and heat buildings.
- 22,000 propane school buses transport 1.3 million students every day across the country. Propane buses are currently located in 1,000 school districts across 48 states.
Michael French
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1-888-824-3337
editors.familyfeatures.com
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