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Closing your curtains or blinds in summer during the day reduces heat gain in your house, decreasing cooling costs.

7/28/2022

With these soaring temperatures in late summer, staying cool is a challenge. There are simple steps that you can take to reduce the temperature rise in your house and thus cut the cost of cooling. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, windows are an entryway for heat into your house. You can reduce heat gain in your house by 45% by covering you windows. Closing draperies can reduce the increase in heat by 33%. The best effect comes from draperies of medium-color that have white-plastic backings. Blinds and cellular shades are even more efficient, reducing heat gain by up to 60%. Exterior options for reducing heat through windows include window awnings can reduce solar heat gain by up to 65% - 77% depending on the direction that the window faces.

Photos by Susan O'Donnell

Look for new plant-based dog treats that smell and taste like real meat

7/20/2022

Reducing the amount of meat in your diet contributes to reducing your carbon footprint. But can you convince your pets to make this switch? Mary Jo DiLonardo on Treehugger.com reported on dog treats created by Bright Planet Pet that are made with vegan ingredients but taste like meat. Owner Katherine Ellson points out that production of "plant-based products create fewer carbon emissions and use less water than meat-based pet treats."* She points out that we can make more sustainable choices for our pets. "What food our pets eat has a global impact and if we can reduce how much meat they eat, we can help reduce climate change and make the earth healthier."* As an additional contribution to their sustainable practices, "the company also plants a tree for each bag sold."*

*https://www.treehugger.com/plant-based-dog-treats-smell-taste-like-meat-5441603?utm_campaign=treehugger&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cn_nl&utm_content=28133403&utm_term=

Photos by Siobhan O'Donnell

Closing your curtains or blinds in summer during the day reduces heat gain in your house, decreasing cooling costs.

Look for new plant-based dog treats that smell and taste like real meat

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