10 Steps to Creating a More Efficient Kitchen
You’ve got your Energy Star rated appliances (and if you don’t, find some here), but there are more ways to make your kitchen efficient, and it doesn’t have to cost you tons of money (you can even find Energy Star rated appliances in affordable price ranges, we did!). For those of you who still have your old energy hogging appliances, it might be time to consider investing in some new ones. Replace them one by one, as your budget allows (and remember not to throw out your old ones, try donating them to secondhand stores or listing them on websites like craigslist or Freecycle).
Some of these tips for your kitchen can be applied to your whole home:
- Turn off the lights when you are not in the room. This is one of the most obvious energy saving tips, but so many people still forget to switch the lights off when they leave.
- Turn off the water when you are not using it. Another obvious tip that frequently gets forgotten, especially if you hand wash your dishes.
- Don’t pre-wash your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. My father-in-law tries to actually wash the dishes before using the dishwasher! Scrape the excess off your dishes when you are done with them, and before it has a chance to dry on.
- Only run full loads of dishes. If your dishwasher is less then full, you are wasting a lot of energy and water. Be sure the dishes are spaced well enough to allow good water flow for best cleaning. You can alternate big plates with little plates, different sized bowls, etc., and make sure that your silverware are spaced well, also. Instead of running a dry cycle, try opening the dishwasher door when the wash cycle is finished and allowing the dishes to air dry.
- Unplug appliances that are not in use, when you can. I know that you all probably already know that electronics and appliances of all kinds still suck energy, even when they are not turned on. Even toasters do it! Unplug the ones that can easily be plugged back in. I’m not recommending to move your oven and unplug it every time you are done, but appliances that have no purpose when not in use, such as toasters, toaster ovens, blenders, etc., can be unplugged every time you are done with them.
- Don’t waste heat by using an oven burner that is bigger than necessary. Using an 8 inch burner for a 6 inch pan will waste greater than 40% of the heat. Most energy-efficient ovens today come with a variety of burner sizes, so if you buy a new oven, try to choose one with sizes that will be useful for you.
- The use of glass and ceramic dishes will allow you to cook with 25 degrees (F) less heat in the same amount of time. Keep your oven doors closed during the cooking process to avoid heat escaping. If you need to check on your food, use the oven light (but remember to turn it off when you are done!).
- Avoid preheating the oven when you can, most foods do not require it.
- Use your microwave to cook (and reheat!) small meals, when possible. The same meal cooked in a microwave can consume less than 1/5th the energy than when cooked in the oven. Keep the inside of your microwave clean for more efficient cooking.
- If possible, keep your refrigerator in a cool place. Fridges in the sun or next to the oven or dishwasher need to work harder to keep temperatures cool. Decide what you want from the fridge/freezer before you open it, and be careful to close the doors all way when you are done. Try to keep the freezer section full, but don’t overstuff the fridge section. Frozen items in the freezer help to keep other items frozen, but a full refrigerator works harder to stay cool.
Do you have any more kitchen efficiency tips? Share with us!
