As consumers become more and more aware of environmental issues, they are becoming increasingly interested in the idea of “green” living or minimizing the impact of their lifestyles on the environment, also known as their “carbon footprint.” Some security dealers are tapping into this trend by marketing lighting control, automatic shade control, HVAC controls, and other home automation systems that help conserve energy. Some security dealers are even branching into installing solar panels.
Although the percentage of customers interested in being green is still relatively small, it is growing, security dealers interviewed for this article agree. “More and more people are interested for different reasons,” comments David Young, president of Chesterfield, Mo.-based dealer The Sound Room. “Some just want to do the right thing. Others are looking for a payback. In the mainstream, people will decide based on payback.”