Abstract: According to aspect of the present invention, an automatic garage door opener is provided and includes: (1) a mechanical mechanism operatively coupled to the garage door for opening and closing thereof; (2) a main control unit for processing command signals to open and close the garage door; (3) a remote control unit in operative communication with the main control unit and capable of sending the command signals; and (4) an active monitoring system that is operatively associated and in communication with the main control unit and the remote control unit, wherein the active monitoring system is configured to send an alert to the remote control unit upon the occurrence of a prescribed event, such as the detection of a gas within the garage at a concentration greater than a predetermined threshold. The main control unit is preferably configured to deliver a control signal to open the garage door upon the occurrence of the gas exceeding the threshold level.