January 10th is National Cut Your Energy Costs Day, so how can you make a difference while cooking? Easy! Just check out these four easy tips for cutting energy costs in the kitchen.
1. The Right Appliances
First of all – always use ENERGY STAR certified appliances. It makes a huge difference. Now, let’s talk about how to best use these appliances:
Fridge/Freezer
Adjust thermostat because setting it colder actually saves energy
Fridge = 30-45 degrees F
Freezer = 0-5 degrees F
Clean coils on bottom of fridge. When dirty it restricts air flow and forces the unit to work harder. Simply clean every 6 months with vacuum and you’re good to go.
Ditch automatic ice makers and use ice trays instead. It may seem silly, but automatic ice makers increase energy consumption by up to 20% – ah!
Instead of having that extra old fridge or freezer in the garage? Get rid of it and get a bigger fridge instead! That extra appliance is costing you energy and money.
Ovens/Ranges
Burners stay warm for a while post-cooking, so turn off before the pasta is completely done!
Burners are a different size for a reason, use smaller pans on smaller burners and larger pans on larger burners. Seems simple, but it helps best utilize energy.
Don’t preheat – this is pretty much unnecessary (unless you’re baking breads or cakes).
Bake in glass or ceramic vessels, which reduces oven temp as much as 25 degrees F.
Keep oven door closed!
Dishwasher
Always do a full load – it requires the same amount of energy either way, so use it wisely.
Turn off dishwasher’s heated dry cycle, it’s unnecessary and will cut 15-50% of operating costs.
Dishwashers require ⅓ of the water used when washing dishes in sink, so this is an excellent excuse not to hand-wash the dishes!
2. Lighting
It’s no secret that energy-efficient light bulbs have made a difference, but you need to go a few more steps to save more energy. Here are a few ideas:
Reduce Wattage – No need to make your living room light up like the Fourth of July, purchase lower wattage bulbs. It will make your house more warm and inviting, plus lower your energy usage.
Dimmers – Light switch dimmers are a seriously great way to reduce the electricity you use. Pro Tip: make sure the light bulbs you buy are compatible with dimmers.
Lamps – Did you know that lamps use less energy and cost less than an overhead light? We think this is the perfect excuse to buy lots of pretty lamps for your side table.
3. Cooking Tips
It’s not all about the appliances and lighting, you can change up your cooking practices to save money too!
Increase amount of food you cook and save for later. Maximizes the energy you use now and reduces energy you need to use in the future.
When possible, grill it out. Grills (especially charcoal) are a great way to cut energy usage and still produce delicious and healthy food.
Cook on the top rack of the oven because it reduces cooking time by up to 20%!
Use flat bottomed cookware because it requires up to 50% less energy to boil water and cook your favorite recipes than warped-bottom pots.
4. Storage Tips
Did you know that how you store food can help you decrease your energy usage? We highly recommend the following:
Let foods cool to room temperature before you put them in the fridge. This keeps your fridge running normally and doesn’t increase energy usage.
Thaw your items in the fridge, not running warm water over them or using the microwave.
Do you have some other great tips to save energy in the kitchen? Comment below!