Reducing Your Carbon Footprint With Your Security System

You don’t want to leave two carbon footprints while you’re on vacation. Reducing the energy consumption of your home while you’re away is easy to accomplish with the help of the latest in security system technology. Adding the human factor assures that you’re protected and that you’re protecting the environment.

Monitoring Your Thermostat

Of course, you will turn the thermostat down when you leave the house. But safely heading south for the winter is not as simple as that. What if the power goes out for an extended period?

A fuel company representative recalled a family whose country home had just been remodeled. While the family was away, there had been a power outage during a snowstorm, and the furnace had failed to relight. When the family returned just two weeks later, they found desolation. The pipes had frozen and burst. The beautifully tiled bathroom floor had heaved. The new toilet had cracked.

Fuel companies offer home monitoring services while their customers are out of town. You can monitor your home yourself with a wireless security system. If your security system is hooked up to your thermostat, you will receive an alert when the temperature drops too low. You can avoid extensive and wasteful accidental damage.

Adding Energy Efficient Outdoor Lighting

Motion detector LED lights reduce your energy consumption in two ways. Motion detectors allow the lights to be turned off when no one is around to set them off, thus conserving electricity. LED lights use one-tenth the energy of standard incandescent bulbs. Outdoor LED lighting is powerful enough to illuminate driveways, patios and side cottages on your property.

You can reduce your carbon footprint even further by using solar panels to power your security sensors. There are solar-powered security cameras, alarms and motion-detector LED lights on the market.

Using Green Materials

Security companies are making their products more energy efficient. Some also are incorporating recycled materials into their equipment. Look into companies such as Vivint, ADT and FrontPoint for their commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of their systems.

Keeping a Neighborhood Watch

Few areas have a neighbor watch anymore, but if you’re still lucky enough to live in an area that does, consider using this to your advantage while you’re away. Having a neighbor pick up your mail while you’re gone helps to keep your home looking occupied. Your neighbor might want your newspaper and all the food that will go bad if you leave it in your refrigerator. You might donate the newspaper and any unopened food to a community center. Recycling and reusing is more effective on a community scale. Anything you give away you will get back in good will.

Monitoring energy use is just one way your security system can help you reduce your carbon footprint. Keep in touch with your green home, and it will be waiting for you when you return.

This contribution comes from XL Protection a security company in Dallas TX. They offer state of the art security cameras, security system packages, and other surveillance equipment.