Plan. That is the takeaway from the conversation hosted by Good Housekeeping Institute home improvement and outdoor director Dan DiClerico at the Hearst Eco-Conscious Living Summit on April 23, 2025.
“Home reflects you and the impact on the environment you want to impart, and that goes into the mechanics,” said interior designer and television personality Arianne Bellizaire. “I can make anything beautiful, but you need to plan for the mechanics to work.” Anthony Carrino, a home improvement expert and partner of the heating-cooling firm Trane, agreed, saying planning should always be the first step when considering how your home affects your environment — both in temperature control and health impact.
“What experience do you want in your home?” asked Vijay Deshmukh, Trane’s vice president of product management-residential HVAC and supply. “It is all about choice.” Considering that HVAC systems can make up 40 percent of your energy output, according to Deshmukh, making informed choices can be good for your bank account over the long haul. He urged homeowners to educate themselves about the products available to them and suggested a heat pump could be a good product to consider. Carrino concurred, touting how the 600-plus speeds of Trane’s heat pumps can make any home more comfortable. (Watch the video above to learn more about how heat pumps work.)
To sum up, in the words Bellizaire says she uses with clients when discussing ways to limit options so they don’t get analysis paralysis: What’s the most impactful choice?
Watch all the discussions from the Hearst Eco-Conscious Living Summit HERE.
