It’s a trendy phrase we see on the news, in marketing collateral and affiliated with commercial brands; but what does it really mean? We’re talking about the catch phrase, “carbon footprint.” According to the Oxford Dictionary, carbon footprint is defined as “the amount of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds emitted due to the consumption of fossil fuels by a particular person, group, etc.” Carbon (CO2) output, or greenhouse gas emission, more simply, is a significant contributor to rising global temperatures.
The Nature Conservatory, one of the many arms helping to protect our planet through research, awareness and policy, attributes 16-tons as the average carbon footprint for a person in the United States – one of the highest rates in the world (globally, it’s more like 4-tons). Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates 40 percent of all U.S. CO2 emissions are a result of heating, cooling and hot water. You can make gains in reducing your carbon footprint by:
- Replacing dated HVAC equipment with more efficient systems and improving the efficiency of your duct system.
- Incorporating geothermal into your HVAC set-up. Heat pumps provide both heating and cooling from a single unit.
- Investing in a Smart (e.g. Nest) thermostat to regulate indoor temperatures.
- Frequently replacing your HVAC system filter(s) to minimize the load under which the system must operate.
Reducing your carbon footprint can help improve the environment while saving you money on utility bills, all while not sacrificing comfort. Curious about your carbon footprint? Calculate it by using the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Carbon Footprint Calculator.
If you’re game to begin chipping away at your carbon footprint, contact Sensible Heating & Cooling at 720-876-7166, or visit http://sensibleheat.net/ for more information. For a limited time, we’re offering a 4 percent discount on new, upgraded or replacement geothermal solutions, when scheduled for Q1 2020 project launch.
About Sensible Heating & Cooling
Sensible Heating & Cooling is Denver’s Premier Heating & Cooling Company, offering a wealth of experience and knowledge in traditional HVAC, as well as alternative systems such as geothermal, heat pumps and boilers. To learn more about Sensible, visit http://sensibleheat.net/.
