Energy Efficient Kitchen
Learn how to save both water and electricity to save energy in the kitchen. Start with a energy efficient refrigerator and energy star oven
- Check the temperature in your refrigerator and freezer. The
refrigerator should be set between 37 and 40 and the freezer should be
set at 5 degrees.
- Keep your refrigerator and freezer full, but not completely
overloaded.
- Vacuum your condenser coils every few months. This keeps them
working
better and more efficiently.
- When cooking, plan ahead by taking out all the ingredients
that you
need for your meal so you aren't opening and closing the refrigerator
all the time.
- Try not to place your refrigerator in direct sunlight or next
to your
stove or range.
- If your refrigerator has an open door alarm, set it so that
you will
know if the door has been left open.
Energy Efficient Kitchen - Check Your Refrigerator Door
- Make sure that your refrigerator door is closing tightly
enough by
placing a dollar bill in the door (with part of it sticking out). Shut
the door and pull the dollar, if it comes out easily you are losing
cold air and wasting energy.
- Unplug your smaller kitchen appliances when they are not in
use or
hook them all up to one surge strip that can be easily turned off.
When cooking on the stove top, place pans on burners that fit the size of the pan (i.e., don't put a small pan on your largest burner - you are only wasting gas or electric).
KitchenSource - The leading online retailer of kitchen, bathroom, patio and home accessories since 1996
Have An Energy Efficient Kitchen With CFL's
Change all of the light bulbs in your kitchen to Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
- For small cooking jobs, use the microwave, it uses much less
energy
than your stove or oven.
- When the time comes to purchase new appliances, pay close
attention
to Energy Star ratings and buy the most energy efficient appliance
possible.
- A great way to create a more energy efficient kitchen is to
start a
compost pile . Composting means less food in your garbage disposal,
which is less energy used overall!
Run Dishwasher With A Full Load
- Only run your dishwasher when you have a full load. It
requires just as much energy to run a small load as it does a small
one, so wait until it's full.
- During summer months, consider making meals that don't
require the
use of your oven. The oven heats your house and will require additional
air conditioning to keep your home cool.
- Another way to create a more energy efficient kitchen is to
limit
your use of hot water in the kitchen as much as possible. Use cold
water to rinse vegetables and for all other kitchen chores that don't
absolutely require the use of hot water.
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