Sustainability Studies student Stephen Dubree reflects on his family’s path towards sustainability in a series of pieces that will take readers on a tour of his home and lifestyle.
Sustainability does not follow the one and done philosophy, rather the principles of constant renewal; one building upon another.
I installed a programmable thermostat when we moved into the house. Having been well informed of the benefits of these units, this is a practice that I will definitely continue. The thermostat we selected is a 5-2 day style, purchased for $ 42.78 at the locally owned Ace Hardware store near the house. Installation and programming were simple using the guide included with the unit. My wife and I agreed that setting the thermostat the decrease to 65 degrees during the day while we were at work and at night while we slept was the best option. The 5-2 day feature adds the benefit of having different setting for the weekend days when we are home throughout the daytime hours.
Another option I selected was installing a motion switch in the kitchen. Due to the layout of our house the kitchen act as a thoroughfare either ends of the structure. Rather than installing two three ways switches on both sides of the room, which would require more material costs and additional time, the motion switch is the best solution. Now when entering the room from either direction the light automatically switches on and remains on for only two minutes after exiting. Besides the convenience of not having to flip the switch, the hands free approach makes living in the space nicer. The price of the motion switch was $ 26.72, which may seem high; however I feel that the cost is more than offset by the savings experienced in not having to run an additional switch on the other side of the room.
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