Pet-Friendly Energy-Efficiency Tips

If you leave a pet indoors for any part of the day, you should check out these helpful tips from TXU Energy.

Through the summer, heat safety is crucial to your two-legged family members as well as your four-legged ones. TXU Energy and the SPCA of Texas urge pet owners to be cautious of high outdoor temperatures and know when to bring pets inside to prevent heat-related injuries, which could be deadly. Whether your pets are inside temporarily, sometimes or all the time, you can conserve electricity to save money on your bills and still keep them safe and comfortable. But there are do’s and don’ts. TXU Energy recently consulted the SPCA of Texas’ experts and veterinarians on how energy efficiency can affect indoor pets in the summer. This led to the following six tips:

1.Set your thermostat at 78 degrees while you’re out. You can set your thermostat to a higher temperature when nobody is home, but if you have a dog or a cat indoors, don’t set it higher than 78-80 degrees and don’t turn off your air conditioner. If your pet has a health condition, be sure to check with your vet on a good temperature setting. A programmable thermostat can make controlling your indoor temperature easy; and, with some models, you can do it via the Web or your smartphone.

2.Turn off lights and ceiling fans. To avoid wasting electricity, leave these off in rooms you’re not using, whether you’re home or away. According to the SPCA, if your pets are home indoors without you, natural lighting is the most soothing, even if it’s filtered by blinds, drapes or outside awnings. And, while the breeze of a ceiling fan against your skin may help you feel cooler, your pets don’t notice the difference like you do.

3.Treat sunny windows to reduce glare. While many pets enjoy basking in the sunshine that comes in from windows, remember that the sun’s glare can affect the indoor temperature in your home, leading your cooling system to switch on more frequently. Consider treating your windows with solar film, or close most of the blinds and drapes (OK, maybe not your pet’s favorite one…) to filter the light that can increase indoor temperatures.

4.Turn off TVs, radios and music. Leaving home electronics like TVs, radios or music turned on may keep your pet active in the daytime hours versus getting rest and relaxation while you’re away. According to the vets at the SPCA of Texas, this might make them lethargic once you’re home. So, if you want to spend quality time with them when you’re home, consider leaving these electronics turned off during the day—especially for cats, who are nocturnal by nature.

5.Leave out plenty of water. Regardless of the indoor temperature settings, be sure to leave plenty of water around for your pets to drink. You can drop ice cubes in their water bowls to keep their water cooler longer. And while some people leave faucets dripping to encourage their pets to drink, this wastes water and the electricity used to transport it to your home. A more energy-efficient option is a pet fountain that circulates water and uses minimal amounts of electricity.

6.Seal air leaks. You can keep more of your household budget for pet treats, toys and pampering if you avoid wasting the electricity that helps to cool your home. So, be sure your windows, doors and fireplaces are sealed to keep cool air from leaking out of the house when it’s hot outside. In the summer, air leaks can cause your cooling system to run more frequently. This uses more electricity and can lead to higher bills.

For more info on protecting your pets during Summer, visit TXU Energy. You can also take a 40 second survey to share your thoughts on heat safety for your pets.

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