The appliances used in the kitchen eat most of the electricity in your house. If you are not careful with their electricity usage, you will be faced with huge electricity bills.
You might not even be aware of the amount of energy you are consuming every time you use these appliances.
Given below are some easy ways to save energy in the kitchen.
1. Invest In A Dishwasher
Dishwashers use less water to wash the dishes (3-5 gallons) compared to washing them by hand (22-23 gallons).
You might think you are saving water by not using the dishwasher but this is not the case.
Dishwashers also clean your dishes better and you are also able to skip steps like rinsing, scrubbing and drying.
Make sure you run the dishwasher when it is fully loaded. The same amount of water and energy is used even if your dishwasher is not fully loaded.
Scrape off the remains from the utensils before you place them in the dishwasher.
2. Use Induction Stoves Or Cooktops
In the induction method about 85-90% of the generated heat is utilized for cooking. It is a proven fact that Induction cooktops and stoves are generally more energy efficient than gas cooktops.
This is because induction cooktops are constructed from iron and steel which aren’t good conductors of electricity. When they get heated, the energy is transferred to the pot or pan and they become the source of heat.
This is why an induction cooktop stays cool and makes it safe, since the risk of burning is prevented.
3. Use Your Washing Machine And Dryer Wisely
A washing machine uses about 350-500 watts of electricity and 20 gallons of water per use.
It is one of the most energy consuming appliances, so it is important that you use it wisely.
- If you only have a few clothes to wash, use the half load setting or wait till you have a full load otherwise you will be wasting a ton of electricity and water.
- Don’t overload your machine. If you do so, all your clothes will absorb the water and the detergent will be unable to dissolve properly. This can result in detergent marks on your clothes which will make them dirty instead of clean.
- Don’t use the dryer unless you really have to. You can consider air drying by hanging your clothes.
4. Reduce Your Refrigerator’s Power Consumption
Your refrigerator runs all the time and certain practices can increase the amount of energy it consumes.
- Never place the refrigerator in a place which gets direct sunlight or near heat sources like ovens.
- Don’t open the refrigerator door for too long. The longer it stays open ,the more energy your refrigerator will consume to bring the temperature down again.
- Avoid placing warm food in the refrigerator.
- Make sure the rubber seals of the refrigerator door work properly otherwise ambient air will get into your refrigerator.
5. Use Your Oven Efficiently
While using your oven,
- Avoid opening the door of your oven to prevent the temperature from going down. It also slows down the cooking time.
- If your food is frozen, thaw it first. Your oven will consume more power to defrost the frozen food.
- Preheat your oven only when it is required.
6. Buy Energy Efficient Kitchen Appliances
In order to minimise the energy which is consumed for preparing meals, buy energy efficient kitchen appliances.
Look for the ENERGY STAR label. Appliances which have the ENERGY STAR certification are built to meet certain energy efficiency standards.
7. Adopt Simple Energy Saving Practices While Cooking
Some of these are,
- While cooking, cover your cooking pots and pans in order to reduce the energy which is consumed for heating food.
- Invest in high quality cookware which is more energy efficient.
- Keep your stove top clean since dirt buildup can reduce burner efficiency.
- If you simply need to heat your food, turn the heat off before your food is fully hot since it will continue to get heated.
Conclusion
If you put the above tips into practice, you will definitely see a reduction in your energy consumption. You will also see a difference in your electricity and water bill.