This the first article of a two part series looking at the relationship between energy and pets.

Nearly seventy percent of American households are home to a pet, resulting in a collective count of over 400 million fish, dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, and more. However, as much as we may cherish our pets, these creatures may be unnecessarily inflating your electricity and natural gas bill. While pets tend to be relatively low-tech creatures, there are a variety of electronic devices we use with our pets and habits induced by pets that could be contributing to your home’s idle load.

Here are some tips on how you can reduce your home’s energy bills as it relates to the ownership of pets. 

Pet Doors

A leaky house may excessively contribute to your electricity bill, and depending on the house, pet doors can contribute to a significant proportion of unwanted air exchange in a home. Since most pet doors are poorly sealed and insulated, your precious heated and cooled air can easily escape through these small openings.

Think of it this way: You wouldn’t open the kitchen window during a snowstorm to bring a chilly draft into your home. So why should you allow your pet door do the exact same thing?

You can address your leaky pet door with one of the four following solutions.

Modify your current pet door

While fixing your existing door may be the most time consuming solution, it is also the least expensive. Throw yourself into a quick DIY project to improve the insulation of your pet door. Alternatively, if you’re feeling up to the challenge, take on the slightly more complex project of completely sealing and weatherproofing your door.

Build a new pet door

A step up from modifying your exiting pet door, you can build a new pet door with better insulation and sealing with another simple, hands-on project. Cheaper than investing in an expensive custom pet door, this solution is perfect for those with a knack for building.

Moving your pet door

If your pet door is located along an exposed and weather-prone side of your home, consider moving it to a more sheltered area. Moving the door to a side of the house with less wind and direct sunlight could reduce, or even eliminate, the need for heavy insulation and airtight sealing.

Install a double entry system

Have you ever noticed that many commercial building have two sets of doors at their entrances? Well, there’s a reason they tend to prefer this method of entry. Contemplate creating a similar double entry system for your pet by using two separate rooms. Place one door so that your pet will first enter a room which is closed-off to the rest of the house and that does not necessarily require heating or cooling, such as a garage or mudroom. Next, place a second pet door from the previously designated room into the living area of the house. By having your pet enter through two doors to reach the interior of your house, you offset heat loss by constricting the leakage to a non-essential room.

Replace your pet door

Several companies offer specialized pet doors that are airtight and well-insulated. These doors typically feature magnets that will allow the flap to stay completely shut at all times. While this tends to be pricey, it is also one of the quickest to implement and potentially the most efficient way to tackle leakage. 

HVAC Systems

When we leave our homes, our pets stay behind. Making sure that pets are comfortable while we’re away is an important aspect of pet care; however, this may also cause us to alter our thermostat habits. Leaving your AC or furnace on during the daytime for the comfort of your pet, when it would otherwise be switched off, may contribute significantly to your electricity and/or natural gas bills.

In place of leaving your heating and cooling system on all day, consider having it run intermittently, perhaps for ten minutes every two hours. For residences without a thermostat (e.g. stand-alone heaters and ACs), consider using a timer to implement a schedule.

Alternatively, for HVAC systems which include a programmable thermostat, more energy can be saved when the setbacks are programmed to match you and your pet’s needs rather than relying on yourself to remember to set and reset the thermostat manually. For occupancy changes that don’t follow the normal setback times, it’s easy to adjust your thermostat with a temporary override―this is typically done by pressing the up or down button―which typically lasts until the next program period starts.  

Keep in mind the specific needs of your pet as well. Depending on the type of animal, your pet may be more tolerant to higher or lower temperatures than a human occupant.

Supplementary Heating for Pets

Particular pets require additional heating, especially those that live in terrariums and aquariums. Heat lamps and heat pads help to create an ideal living environment for your pet; however, these devices often consume large amounts of energy.

Installing a thermostat system in your pet’s tank could reduce the energy usage of these heating devices by determining when the tank needs to be heated. Thermostat systems are available for both dry and wet tanks.

Alternatively, you could run your heating equipment at a lower intensity and increase the heat retention of the tank itself. One easy and cost-effective method to reduce heat loss is to insulate your pet’s tank on four out of five sides using foam pads.

Of course, each creature has different needs. Always be aware and stay educated about your pet’s environmental needs. While reducing your energy bill is important, keeping your pet healthy and happy is crucial as well. Remember, saving energy and caring for your pet aren’t mutually exclusive practices; implementing a few simple changes to your habits and home can easily accomplish both goals.

Part 2:  Filtration and Cleanliness