Cooking smarter in an all-electric kitchen saves electricity and reduces costs, as heating uses a lot of energy.
The kitchen and utility room are home to some of the most power-hungry appliances in the home. Small changes in the usage patterns of these appliances can add up to big savings on the electricity bill.
Use the Right Size Pan and Hob
If the pan does not cover the ring, then a lot of the ring’s electricity will be wasted in heating the air.
If boiling water is needed then boiling it first in a kettle is more efficient than bringing water to the boil on the hob, as long as all the water in the kettle is poured into the pan.
Using a lid on the pan saves energy and reduces steam in the kitchen.
Using a steamer on top of a pan sued for boiling is another way to save energy on the hob.
Use the Microwave instead of the Oven
Where food has a microwave option and a heat in the oven option it is more energy-efficient to the microwave because there is no need to preheat and the microwave is on for a much shorter time than the oven.
Boil Just the Amount of Water Needed
The energy a kettle uses is proportional to the amount of water it heats, if four cups of water are boiled but only one cup is needed then the kettle will use nearly four times as much energy. Putting a marker on the kettle for one or two cups can save a surprising amount of energy if it helps fill the kettle to the right amount.
Keep the Fridge Cool
Siting the fridge away from the oven or boiler is a good move, as is keeping it out of direct sunlight, and locating it against an external wall. Likewise, hot food should not be placed straight into the fridge to cool, let it cool down a bit first.
Defrost Frozen Food in the Fridge
This will help keep the fridge cool as the frozen item thaws, saving energy.
Defrost the Fridge/Freezer Regularly
This is a chore, but icing up seriously reduces the efficiency of a refrigerator. Self-defrosting models sometimes lull the owner into a false sense of security, as the defrost water is discharged over the element outside or evaporation plate over the warm compressor motor. The discharge tube can easily get blocked, leading to hidden ice deposits.
Wash at a Cooler Temperature
Heating the water in a washing machine takes a lot of energy. Washing at 30°c instead of 40°c can save a lot of energy, and modern detergents are designed to give the performance at 30°c that needed a hotter wash of 40°c in the past.
If the machine has a hot and cold water intake, on the cooler washes the hot water intake is used. Paradoxically, on the really hot washes of 60°c or more, many machines will only take in from the cold water supply, so that the wash temperature rises slowly, to prevent fixing stains.
Run a Full Wash
Half-filling a washing machine twice uses more energy than filling it and running once. If half-filling is necessary, use the half load programme, which saves water and some energy (though not usually half!)
Following some of these tips and hints can save energy, reducing electricity bills and CO2 emissions in the kitchen, often the most energy-intensive area of the home.
