Fossil fuel dependence, rising energy bills, and growing unease about the world being handed to the next generation. These are all at the top of the list for making more sustainable choices.
Author Susan Quinn credits her eco-conscious lifestyle to her father, a solar engineer, “I was always really proud of my dad and his work.” She often weaves it into her writing. “I put solar homes like my dad designed into my stories.”
So when Susan decided to relocate, she saw the move as an opportunity to change how she powers her home.
Susan explains, “A clean energy future looks like a cleaner, healthier world. I live in that world, and my kids live in that world. I want it to be clean for everybody.
It began on the roof.
Solar panels now cover roughly 75 percent of her household’s electricity needs.
A whole-house battery backup system provides peace of mind if there is a power outage, and she no longer relies on gas. In the driveway, an Electric Vehicle saves her at the pump while reducing emissions. Inside, a heat pump conditions the air, and an induction cooktop has taken the place of a gas range.
Susan didn’t just change the products she uses; she changed how her entire home functions and encourages others to do the same.
“People have a better understanding of the stakes and are doing their part,” she said, “That gives me a lot of hope.”
For Susan, the project was cumulative. One change revealed the next as sustainability expanded into the backyard, and native habitats invite natural pollinators to stop by.
By making these changes over time, she was able to take control and can have more confidence in the cleaner future she envisions for everyone.
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