Reducing energy consumption through using less of an energy service is just one of the ways in which we can all help to lower environmental impact. The goal is to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products – so being economical with washing and drying for instance is a perfect example. Take a look at the guide below to see how easy it is to save energy in the kitchen…
Cooking Methods
Cooking can make up to 30% of your average gas and electricity bill, so is the ideal place to start making changes. The most energy-efficient way to cook is with your microwave – 10 minutes a day will only cost about £3 a year! Slow cookers are next on the list, followed by cooking on an electric hob. Try and use the right size saucepan for the hob as heating excess water wastes energy, and make sure you cover the pan with a lid to trap the heat and bring the water to the boil more quickly.
When cooking in the oven remember that each time you open the door the heat gets lost, and the oven then has to work harder to return to temperature. Cook as much food as possible in one go, and keep your oven clean – a dirty oven takes longer to heat up and burnt on food causes the oven to be less efficient, as well as making food taste unpleasant! Don’t forget your oven stays hot for at least 10 minutes afterwards, so turn it off early to save even more energy.
Washing and Drying
Two kitchen appliances that use lots of energy are your washing machine and tumble dryer. Using them correctly will guarantee a saving in time and money! Lower the temperature of the wash for items that need to be washed regularly – over a year this can halve consumption. Only use the machine when you have a full load, and change the load settings to accommodate smaller washes. An extra final spin will reduce the time you need to keep the garments in the tumble dryer. Here a few more energy-saving tips for your tumble dryer that you can check.
Take a look at the weather before you automatically use the tumble dryer! An outdoor clothes line will dry clothes naturally, so opt for this method as often as you can, particularly during the summer months.
Refrigerating and Freezing
Knowing where to put your fridge and freezer is one of the factors that can affect the efficiency of the appliance. Next to the oven or in direct sunlight are unadvisable, as is putting them against a wall as this makes air circulation difficult. Regular defrosting is a must as an iced up compartment or drawer makes the freezer work harder and wastes energy. It’s a good idea to invest in a fridge/freezer thermometer so you can keep the temperature at the exact efficient working level.
Don’t put hot or warm food directly into the fridge – let it cool down first. Defrosting frozen food in the fridge will keep the food cool as it thaws. Finally don’t leave the doors open for any length of time!
A Few More Energy Saving Tips
As well as saving energy in the kitchen fixing dripping taps will save energy at home! A badly dripping tap can actually waste as much as one litre of water per hour, so check every tap for leaks. For future purchases try and buy energy efficient appliances, and get into the routine of turning them off instead of leaving them on standby if at all possible.
