The kitchen uses the most energy of any room in a household, making it the most expensive part of the electricity bill. Explore the following ways you can reduce energy usage in the kitchen. If you live in Texas and want to determine who the best electricity provider is, you can compare rates and switch to the provider that offers the best plan for your household.
Choose Heat Carefully
When it comes to reducing energy usage in the kitchen, no change is insignificant. Choose a burner that is appropriately sized for the pan being heated. Putting a small pan on a large-sized burner wastes a lot of energy. Likewise, turn down the level of flame on the burner so that it’s not surrounding the edges of the pan.
Try turning off the heat a few minutes early. Whether turning off the heat of the oven or the stove while cooking food, the heat will remain and continue to cook food.
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A Note About Water
Water is precious and being conscious of how much is used in the kitchen can go a long way toward reducing energy usage. Only run a dishwasher when it is full; this means comfortably fitting bowls, plates, cups, and more in an organized way that allows all dishes to be cleaned. Running a full dishwasher will reduce the use of both energy and water.
The more water in a pan, the more energy it takes to bring to a boil. Carefully consider how much water to fill in a pan or kettle and use the minimum amount needed when cooking. A smart way is to measure out the exact amount of water needed, for example, a cup of tea then adds a bit extra for evaporation.
Shorter Cooking Time Means Less Energy
The longer it takes to cook the more energy will be used. One way to reduce energy use during the cooking process is to defrost before cooking. Place frozen food in the refrigerator to thaw out so that it will evenly cook, reducing the amount of energy used by the stove or oven.
Another method to reduce energy use is to portion control. The smaller the pieces of food to be boiled the less time it takes for them to cook. It’s a simple, effective way to ensure everything cooks evenly and efficiently.
Add Some Energy-Efficient Touches
There are a few energy-efficient touches to add to the kitchen that will help reduce energy usage. Use an exhaust hood with a beck-shelf hood. Or opt for a wall-mounted canopy hood or single-island canopy hood. Adding end panels and a lip along the leading edge will help any hood more efficiently inhale cooking fumes.
Invest in replacing older appliances with newer Energy Star Rated appliances. Start with replacing the biggest appliance that uses the most energy. It can be costly upfront, but the savings on energy bills over time will be worth the investment. The doors on ovens and refrigerators are meant to trap the heat and cold. Ensure that the protective seals around doors are in good condition and working properly. Test the condition of seals by placing a piece of paper between the seals and the doors, and replace the seals if the paper can easily slide in and out.
Another energy-efficient touch to add is a smart home automation system to help efficiently manage living spaces. NewEgg is an online retail store carrying a wide selection of smart home automation brands and user-friendly solutions that can be controlled effortlessly on a mobile app. Anytime a sensor detects an action in the home, a notification is sent to the app and the user can configure home automation devices remotely.
