There are ways to upgrade your kitchen so it makes the whole home more energy efficient. For example, conventional ovens use up quite a lot of energy, but can be replaced with convection ones that require up to 20% less electricity. Microwaves consume 80% less energy than conventional ovens and can be used not only for reheating your food but also for cooking it. Pressure cookers work significantly, faster which means you spend less time on making lunch.
If these upgrades seem too drastic, here are some simple tips to save energy on a daily basis:
- When boiling water, put a lid on a pot – it prevents heat from escaping and speeds up the boiling process.
- Place your pans on heating elements that match their size.
- When using a kettle, fill it only with the necessary amount of water.
- Food cooks quicker on the top rack of the oven.
It's also important to pay attention to your fridge as it is sometimes responsible for approximately 7% of the whole electricity bill. Defrost your freezer from time to time and try to keep your fridge full, as it needs more energy to keep itself cool when empty. Obviously, if a fridge is located near a stove, a radiator or exposed to direct sunlight, it spends more energy on maintaining low temperature inside.