How to reduce energy use in the kitchen
Posted by Guest Blogger on December 17, 2013
When it comes to home electricity use, the kitchen typically uses the most. This is due to a collection of heavily used appliances that drain energy. The good news is that it’s easy to start saving energy in the kitchen, and in many cases it won’t require more than changing your habits and possibly your light bulbs.
It is important to check your appliances and review what you’re using and how you’re using them. Appliances account for about 20 percent of the average household’s energy use and chances are high that if you haven’t purchased new appliances in the past ten years, you’re spending extra money to keep them running. If you’re considering buying a new appliance, look for products with the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR appliances outperform standard appliances due to advanced technology and design, which ultimately reduces energy use and saves you money.
If you’re not ready to replace your current kitchen appliances, here are a few other tips to minimize energy use in the kitchen:
- Unplug all appliances when they aren’t in use. Things like the toaster and coffee maker still use energy when plugged in, even if they aren’t being used.
- Keep your freezer and refrigerator doors closed as much as possible
- Keep your freezer full
- Clean your refrigerator's coils at least once a year
- Air-dry your dishes or only use the dishwasher when it’s full.
- Avoid setting up your refrigerator next to the oven or boiler, as that cause it have to work harder to maintain cool temperatures inside.
- Use the “economy” setting on your dishwasher and only run it if you have a full load.
- Use a microwave oven as much as possible. It uses less energy than a conventional oven.
- Keep your oven’s metal burners clean.
- Make sure to match the pan size to the element you’re cooking on. A small pot on a large burner wastes energy.
While light bulbs are necessary for work in the kitchen, they are a big source of energy use. To help save, switch to energy-efficient bulbs like LEDs, which last longer and will immediately reduce your energy consumption.
For additional energy-saving tips, videos and resources visit WH’s energy conservation page.