Top 3 Innovative Solutions for Greener Houses
Tech.co, December 14, 2015. Image credit: Thomas Hawk
Given that residential emissions – estimated at 89.9 million tonnes in 2010 – account for more than passenger cars (68 million tonnes) and every other sector apart from power stations, it makes sense to reduce first and foremost your household’s carbon footprint.
So what better time to start thinking of cutting-edge technologies to curb your household’s impact on the environment? The three following options are ideal long-term investments, helping you make your property greener as well as more marketable.
Save Energy with Home Automation
Google-owned Nest has been earning praise in tech industry for a few years now. New features and releases keep coming up, making the third generation of this learning thermostat one of the most fascinating and stress-free options to make your heating system energy efficient.
With a sensor capable of adapting your heating schedule to your daily activities and even detect when you’re about to leave your home, Nest helps you save up to 10-12 percent on your energy bills. The overall impact on the environment goes even further: Nest has saved 4 billion kWh in the US alone since 2011.
Install Electrochromic Windows
There’s nothing new about solar panels, now a quite common features in many residential areas around Europe. Going more unnoticed, however, is a slightly different approach to solar energy, yet one that is equally smart and disruptive.
We’re talking about electrochromic windows, which can have a huge impact in countries with hotter climates. Easily activated remotely or with a switch, electrochromic windows quickly become darker, reflecting up to 98 percent of the solar light hitting them and preventing the room from getting too hot or too cold.
Electrochromic windows are expected to become the most effective alternative to air conditioning: 100 of these windows consume just as little energy as a common light bulb.