PET FOOD ISN’T ALWAYS ECO-FRIENDLY THE FACTS ON ANIMAL POLLUTION IN OUR OWN HOMES
Today’s homes are far more energy-efficient than homes from a decade ago and include all kinds of upgraded features, like solar panel roofs and smart home connectivity. But how much money do these high-tech installations actually save you? Depending on how many features your eco-friendly home has, it could be thousands of dollars every year. It’s important to figure out which technologies can improve the performance of your home and how big your savings could be. Here are some of the biggest money- saving features! Smart Thermostats Smart thermostats are becoming more and more common and for good reason. These devices let homeowners control and monitor their heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems whether they’re at home or not. The energy savings vary per brand and model, but you can usually reduce your HVAC costs by 10%– 23%, which is a big deal since these costs account for about half of the average home’s utility bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Low-E Storm Windows The temperature that your home retains is largely influenced by the windows in your home. Low-E (low-efficiency) storm windows are tight-fitting windows that have a thin layer of radiant-reflective material, which decreases the heat coming into your home and your overall energy needs. Low-E windows can lower your annual HVAC bills by 12%–33%, according to the DOE. WaterSense Toilets The Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program is much like its EnergyStar program — both certify products that meet certain high-performance and eco-friendly standards. All toilets with a WaterSense label are 20% more water-efficient than traditional toilets and use only 1.28 gallons per flush. Solar Panels Your savings here will vary depending on the location of your house and how much sunlight it gets, but you can use Google’s Project Sunroof ( Google.com/get/sunroof ) to calculate just how much you can save. Many energy companies will even buy any excess energy generated by your solar panels, which goes a step beyond savings by providing additional income for homeowners. How Much Money Can a Tech-Savvy Home Save You?
Dogs and cats are exposed to many of the same carcinogenic and toxic chemicals as humans, especially in their food. But average levels of these chemicals were found to be substantially higher in pets than in people. According to “Polluted Pets,” a 2008 report from the Environmental Working Group, dogs were found to have 40% higher levels of dangerous chemicals as humans, and cats had 96% higher levels of the same chemicals. By upgrading your pet’s food to a healthier, eco-friendly brand, you can improve your furry friends’ quality of life while also helping save the planet. But how do you identify which brand is best for your pet and the environment? Wait, is pet food really that bad? Many brands can be problematic to your pet’s health. Consider pet food with “meat meal” on the label — meat meal is processed dried meat that’s usually used in kibble and is composed of low-quality meat, bones, hooves, feathers, and other parts of the animal. How can they possibly use hooves and feathers, you ask? The “meal” is cooked at extremely high temperatures, making it much less nutritious than higher-quality meats and fish. (No wonder some pets are so desperate for our table scraps!) A lack of regulation in the pet food industry has been an issue for many years. Checking recalls on brand-name dog food brands will reveal that they’ve found salmonella, E. coli, and even the euthanasia drug pentobarbital in some dog food brands. Yes, the same chemical used to put dogs down! What’s the importance of an eco-friendly brand? Like with other foods that we buy, picking an eco-friendly pet food brand will help support farmers and businesses with smaller carbon footprints, which keeps chemicals out of the ground and local waterways.
As far as picking an eco- friendly brand, look for an organic, human grade, and/ or non-GMO label when you’re shopping. Check out the packaging and whether or not it’s made from sustainable and renewable materials — these are all signs of an eco-responsible company. Two popular, healthy brands are Honest Kitchen and Lily’s Kitchen!
No matter what kind of shenanigans our pets get into, we can all agree that they deserve healthy, happy lives. That can often start with their food. Let us know what brands are your favorite!
When you’re ready to make changes to your current home and start saving, let us know how we can help!
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