Carbon footprint is usually linked to business operations; but everyone leaves a footprint we must offset. It all starts with households, where automation is emerging as an ally to reduce our impact on the planet.  

Households are one of the biggest sources of CO₂ emissions. Estimates show Spanish homes release an average of 12.5 tonnes of greenhouse gases every year, with figures on the rise in recent years due by and large to a relaxed attitude to energy consumption. 

To bring it under control, more and more people are turning to automation technology that manages homes in a smart way. These increasingly innovative systems have sensors that gather and process information and give instructions to devices: You can programme sprinklers to work only when the weather and soil moisture call for it, and dim lights according to the sunlight and people in a room. 

The many benefits of smart home automation include:  

• Security: Devices can let us know if they detect smoke, a gas leak or other potential damages to the home. Alarm apps are some of the most important to prevent break-ins. 
• Accessibility: Especially useful for people with disabilities. Through intuitive apps, they can configure their smart devices independently. 
• Information: We can learn about, and keep a lid on, over-consumption in real time and from anywhere outside our home. 
• Sustainability: The technology that makes our homes smart has a positive impact on the planet because it reduces pollution and energy consumption. 

Home automation is becoming pivotal to fighting climate change and to the transition to a green economy, in which individuals and organizations have a crucial role to play. According to our executive chairman, Ana Botín, “to build a green economy we must implement sweeping changes to how we do business and how we live”.