Sustainable Spatulas: Cooking up energy efficiency in the kitchen
June 27, 2024
Have you ever wondered how much energy your kitchen appliances consume? From the dishwasher washing your dishes to cooking on the stove or in the oven—all these appliances can contribute to higher energy costs. Let Union Power’s appliance calculator help you determine how to save money and energy.
Here are a few energy-saving tips:
Dishwashers
ENERGY STAR®-certified dishwashers use less water and energy compared to conventional models. They offer features like soil sensors that detect how dirty dishes are, minimize water use, provide efficient jets that use less energy, and water filtration that removes food more efficiently.
A standard-sized ENERGY STAR® dishwasher costs about $35 per year and can save you an average of 3,870 gallons of water over its lifetime.
Before starting a wash cycle, ensure the dishwasher is full to minimize the number of wash cycles and possibly extend the dishwasher’s life.
Refrigerators
Most refrigerator temperatures should be set at 35°-38°F and freezers 0°F.
Multiple refrigerators or freezers may be handy, but additional storage will increase energy costs.
Make an effort to reduce the number of times the refrigerator doors are open.
Stoves
It is very important to select an efficient stove. Today, induction stoves are better than traditional electric or gas stoves. They cook food faster and have safety features like automatic shut-off and hot burner warning lights. Even though induction stoves are more expensive, over time they could save you on energy costs.
If you are content with your appliances and do not plan on buying new ones, you can still practice energy-saving behaviors that can potentially cut your energy usage:
While cooking in a pot, ensure the pot size matches the heating element size.
If cooking smaller portions, use a more energy-efficient option, like a toaster oven, air fryer, or convection oven, rather than a full-sized stove. These appliances use less energy than a full-sized oven.
Investing in and understanding your home’s energy use can be rewarding in the long run. Taking these small steps to improve your energy use can help you save money and energy in the future.