Conserving Energy in the Kitchen

Saving energy in your home is the cheapest, fastest, and easiest way you can help curb global warming -- and get paid while doing it. Typical U.S. households spend between $1,000 and $1,800 each year to heat and cool their homes, power appliances and keep the lights on. Becoming more energy efficient at home reduces your demand on local utilities and the polluting processes that feed them, which saves you money and protects your health.

Of all the rooms in your home, the kitchen is likely the biggest energy hog. Start here and take a couple simple steps to reduce your monthly electricity bill...

As one of the biggest appliances in your kitchen, the refrigerator is also one of the most power hungry, accounting for 10-15 percent of the average home energy bill each month. There's no better place to start greening your kitchen than here.  Replacing your older refrigerator with a more efficient model is a smart investment. Be sure to look for the Energy Star sticker before purchasing any new appliance. Energy Star refrigerators use 50 percent less energy than a fridge just ten years old.

If the time isn't right to replace your refrigerator there is still plenty you can do to make your current one more efficient. Start by setting the refrigerator thermostat to maintain a temperature between 38 and 42 degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer thermostat to maintain a temperature between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit. These temperatures will protect your food from spoiling while saving electricity. You may need to buy a fridge thermometer to do this, but they're cheap and you can pass it along to friends and family so they can do the same. If you're fridge has a power-save switch, use it. And remember what mom used to say about deciding what you want to eat before you open the door. 

Fridges and freezers will use less energy if they're not near anything that heats up the room. If possible, put the refrigerator out of direct sunlight and away from the oven and dishwasher.

The dust and dirt under or behind your refrigerator may be costing you money. Just like your clothes drier and air conditioner, your refrigerator requires good airflow around some of its parts in order to work efficiently. That part of your refrigerator is called the condenser coil and it should be cleaned twice a year (unless your owner's manual says you have a no-clean condenser). Cleaning the coil is about as easy as cleaning your blinds, so consult your manual or the web for a quick how-to. Just be sure to unplug the fridge before poking around.

A well-stocked freezer and fridge will use less electricity. Plan ahead and defrost frozen foods in the fridge and let your leftovers cool before putting them away.

When using the oven, see with your eyes and not your hands. Opening the door to get a look at your food can release as much as 25% of the heat inside the oven. Reduce the number of times you open the door and make use of those oven windows and lights. Food will cook more quickly on the top rack of your oven.

Crock pots, toasters and modern microwaves all use much less energy than your oven. Consider using the microwave or toaster oven to cook smaller items. Defrosting food in the microwave or heating it for a minute before putting it in the oven will save you time and money.

Replace old faucets with new water-saving designs -- or simply fit your current faucet with a low-flow aerator, preferably one with an on/off switch. An aerator with a switch stops the water just before it leaves the faucet, allowing you turn the water on and off while maintaining whatever temperature and pressure you like. Either step will save water -- and energy by reducing the amount of hot water that goes down the drain unused.

When hand washing dishes, don't let the hot water run continuously. Using a dishpan or sink stopper to create a bath for washing or rinsing your dishes is a good way to conserve water. Leaving the water running for just seven minutes can use more water than even an older dishwasher model uses to clean a full load of dishes.

If you have dishwasher, use it.  Running a fully-loaded dishwasher -- without pre-rinsing the dishes -- can use a third less water than washing the dishes by hand. Simply scrape large pieces of food off of your dishes and let the dishwasher handle the rest. Use the "energy saver" and "light wash" options for everyday cleaning.

If everyone took just a few simple steps to reduce their energy use, we wouldn't need to build more polluting power plants. Track your progress on your monthly electricity bill and come back soon to find more tips for other rooms in your house!

Turn down the temperature in your fridge. Set the fridge between 38 and 42 degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Use the microwave and toaster oven or dust off the crock pot.	Clean the condenser coil at the back of your fridge at least twice a year. Purchase and install a low-flow aerator on your kitchen faucet.	Ready to replace your appliances? Look for the Energy Star label and choose a more efficient appliance. Consider long-term operating costs, not just the price on the sticker. Learn more about choosing efficient appliances. Make your entire home more energy efficient; start with our tips for the kitchen, living room and laundry room.

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