For most people, the kitchen is the centre of the household. Meals are prepared and enjoyed, housework is accomplished, and many other tasks occur here. This large amount of daily activity means that a large amount of energy is also consumed here. As with the rest of your home, small steps can lead to big results when making your kitchen more energy efficient.
The first step for saving energy in your kitchen is awareness. Take a careful
look at your kitchen’s electrical appliances to help you determine how to cut
back on everyday energy consumption. Small changes, such as using handheld
tools rather than electrical ones can make a big difference for both the
environment as well as your budget.
Lets start with the oven
Opening the oven door to check on food actually reduces the inner temperature
by about 25 degrees, thus requiring more time and energy to properly cook your
food. Try turning on the oven light to check on your food instead. When
possible, cook several items together simultaneously. Rather than preheating
your oven, turn it on and place the food in it at the same time. You may need
to adjust the cooking time, but you will save more energy. Additionally, turn
the oven off about ten minutes before the recommended cooking time, and leave
the door closed. As the oven cools down, your food will continue to cook. When
cooking on the hob, use as few burners as possible. Turn down the heat once you
have reached a boiling temperature. You do not need full heat to maintain a boil.
Fridge and Freezers
Fridges and freezers are two of the biggest consumers of kitchen energy.
Maximise their energy usage and performance by checking that both doors are
tightly shut and properly sealed. When you open the fridge or freezer door,
take out everything that you need at once rather than opening it repeatedly.
Every time the door opens, a rush of warm air makes the cooling elements work
harder to keep the food at the proper temperature. Decide on exactly what you
need before opening the door. Consider investing in energy efficient models,
which use over 60% less energy that older models. Keep your fridge and freezer
full. Too much empty space requires more energy to keep items cold. Allow foods
to cool before placing them in the fridge or freezer.
Washing Machine
Washing machines have come a long way as far as their ability to get your
clothes clean. It is not necessary to wash clothes at high temperatures unless
they require extra sanitising. Washing powders and washing liquids will clean
just as effectively at 30 degrees as they will at 40 degrees. Always wash a
full to maximise water and energy usage. When it is time to replace your
washing machine, shop for an energy efficient model.
Non-Essentials
Though convenience is a wonderful thing, it often comes at the expense of
energy. Appliances such as dishwashers, blenders, electrical whisks and mixers,
and tumble dryers are great but not essential. Consider doing kitchen tasks by
hand rather than using electricity whenever possible. When the weather permits,
hang your clothes outside rather than using the tumble dryer. Burn some extra
calories by whisking and mixing by hand.
Kitchen Savers
Here are a few tips to make your kitchen as energy efficient as possible:
• Only boil the amount of water that you need in a kettle rather than filling
it up to the top.
• Wash fruits and vegetables in a colander or bowl rather than constantly
running the tap.
• Purchase a refrigerator with a freezer on top. Side by side models are less
efficient.
• Only run the dishwasher when it is completely full.
• Pre-rinse dishes by hand to avoid having to run them through a second time.
• Allow dishes to air dry rather than using the heated dry feature.
• Buy energy efficient light fittings.
• Unplug kitchen appliances when not in use.
Final word
Follow these tips and not only will you reduce your homes carbon footprint but you will also save yourself money. Today in the UK it is a legal requirement to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) when you sell or let your property. When choosing an EPC estate agent be sure to shop around as prices vary for what is essentially an identical product. Remember, the more energy efficient your home is the better EPC rating it will get which in today’s market makes your property more appealing to both buyers and tenants.
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