Over 72% of UK pet owners admitted leaving the heater on for the comfort of their furry companions. On top of that, they at times leave televisions or radios on as a form of comfort for their pets that are left home alone. 23% of pets in the UK are enjoying this luxury. With that, households paying an amount of £232 million a year on energy bills alone, excluding vet bills.
Whilst some pet owners are probably guilty of wasting energy, there are solutions to every problem. You don’t have to be torn between keeping your furry buddy cosy and saving energy bills; there are practical ways to address this matter and achieve both.
1. Invest in a programmable thermostat.
As a pet owner, you have been tending to various needs of your pets and that includes the ideal temperature setting at home. This is especially true during the summer and cold winter months. With a programmable thermostat, it allows you to take control of your home’s temperature.
You may want to set the thermostat at 78 °F during the winter and adjusting it to 68 °F in summer. The temperature range best suited to your pet varies on the type of pet and type of breed that you have. For Double-coated pets tend to feel warmer in comparison to slick-coated ones. For dogs, brachycephalic breeds, such as Pugs and Pekingese, require cooler temperatures due to their limited ability to handle the heat.
2. Fans off.
Leaving a running fan at home does not significantly change your house’s temperature. Your pets’ thick coats do not benefit from the breeze of the fan. It will only contribute additional kilowatt hours to your bills.
3. Be mindful of the location of your pet’s bed.
Instead of just investing energy to create a cosy environment, look for a naturally cosy area where you can place your pet’s bed. Try to test it out yourself. See how it feels on your pet’s level. How was the temperature? Is it cosy or draughty? Avoid putting your pet’s bed near appliances that produce direct heat.
4. Assign a designated pet room.
Do you leave all the heaters on in the whole house for your pet? It is not necessary, pet cameras show that our pets tend to stay in one particular area when home-alone. Find the room your pet normally spends his time sleeping in, just keep this designated pet room heated instead of heating the whole house. Make sure to leave them with food, water and litter tray within easy access.
5. Ensure a hot dinner.
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A hot meal helps your pets on a cold day. It does not only offer warmth but also makes the food more appetising. Just make sure the food is not too hot so your pets won’t get burnt.
6. Turn off the lights.
In general, animals do not rely on electric lights as humans do. They prefer natural light than artificial light. Leaving the lights on for pets is usually more of psychological comfort for us than a practical choice.
7. Recycle aquarium water.
For pet fish owners look for aquarium pumps that consume low power. Further, as you clean your fish tank, you are to remove half or one-third of the water with fresh new water. What do you do with the old water? Don’t waste it. It can be used in watering plants in the garden.
8. Introduce a schedule to your reptile pet.
Exotic pets such as lizards and snakes require specific heating and lighting which consumes energy. The best thing you can do is to invest in a timer. This can be bought from a hardware store. It helps to automatically adjust and switch heat lights on and off according to the time of the day. Set a programming schedule that helps you with energy costs.
9. Don’t leave televisions on.
Is your pet really watching the tv? Whilst there are many videos of dogs and cat reacting to the television, it is not a practical choice to leave them with the tv on. Some pets may even be confused with the noise, and their peaceful napping time will be disturbed.
Many pet owners may believe that a TV or a radio can provide a certain distraction or as a company for their pets, but it does not substitute human companionship. Dogs particularly need outdoor exposure and proper socialisation that allows them to put all senses to good use.
As with any devoted owners, you may be willing to resort to all measures that ensure a quality life for your pet. It will be best to shower your pet with love but in a more energy-efficient way.
