Attempting to be more energy efficient, especially in the winter, can be a challenge for pet owners. We all want our furry friends to be comfortable, but we also want to conserve energy. Here are a few tips that might help:
- Use a programmable thermostat. Schedule the temperature to drop a couple of degrees when you aren’t home. It may seem cold to you, but your pet can handle it—they will naturally seek out the warmer spots in your house. And to be honest, turning your heat down more than 3-5° doesn’t really save much energy, as your system has to work harder to get up to temp when you get back home.
- Turn off the lights. Natural light—even when it’s filtered through blinds or drapes—is actually more soothing to animals than artificial light. Even if you’re gone at night, your pets will be perfectly fine if the lights remain off.
- Turn off the TV. While you may think it’s comforting for them, your pet doesn’t need the TV or radio on while you are away. A toy or bone will do the job just fine.
- Wash your pet’s blankets and beds in cold water. Cold water cleans just as well as warm…and Fido certainly won’t know the difference!