Saving
Energy in the Kitchen - Refrigerator & Other Appliances
1. Keep your refrigerator full but not overstuffed.
Food retains cold better than air.
2. Try to open the fridge less frequently and don't
just leave it open.
3. Set your refrigerator close to 37 degrees F and freezer
to 3 degrees F. Clean refrigerator gaskets regularly
and vacuum the condenser coils once or twice per year.
4. Don't place the fridge in a warm area (like near
a heater or in direct sunlight).
5. Use Energy-Saving appliances. Check and compare
energy ratings before buying large appliances. These
tell you how many kilowatt hours of energy it uses per
month.
6. Fill your dishwasher as full as possible. Fewer big
loads save you money and save power. And, only wash
things in the sink if they can’t be washed in
the dishwasher (the machine uses less water and heat
than you would).
7. Use electric kettles to boil water which consume
half the energy needed to boil water on the stove.
8. Always cover pots when cooking to speed up process
and save energy. Water will boil more quickly if there
is a lid on the pan.
9. Use pressure cookers which use very little energy
and are best for food that is “low on the food
chain”.
10. Don’t waste energy preheating your oven,
most ovens don’t need it. For pastries and cakes,
preheating 10 minutes is plenty. You can also turn your
oven off 15 minutes early for major items like roasts
and casseroles — the heat left in the oven will
finish the job.
11. Turn down the heat after water boils. Lightly boiling
water is the same temperature as a roaring boil.
12. Cook food in glass dishes which are quicker than
metal pans. The bottom of your pan or pot should be
the same size as the burner to use the minimum amount
of energy.
13. Thaw food out before cooking. Cooking frozen foods
uses more energy.
Green
Kitchen Ideas
Save Energy with Kitchen
Appliances
Energy Saving Food
& Cooking Tips
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