Saving energy not only helps conserve Mother Earth for generations to come but also lowers those utility bills leaving you and your family with more to spend. The kitchen is packed full of appliances, and it’s no surprise that it’s the biggest user of energy in the average family home.
However, with the right knowledge you can transform your kitchen from an energy drain to an energy saver, profiting from lower utility bills and reduced carbon emissions. Here we reveal the five steps that every home can take for a more energy efficient kitchen…
1. Be careful when cooking in the oven
Unknown to many how using your oven can save you heaps of energy. Why not try cooking a little greener by lowering your oven temperature by 20°C? By slow cooking your meals, you still get great tasting food as the ceramic or glass oven you use will retain the same amount of heat, however, the slight drop in temperature will reduce your annual gas or electricity bill dramatically.
2. Keep it clean
Keeping appliances like toaster, oven and hob clean doesn’t just mean you have a sparkling kitchen all year round. Metal surfaces in particular have been proven to reflect heat better when clean, so food cooks faster and uses less energy in the long run.
The same theory applies to your fridge too, the coils on your fridge work hard to keep its contents cool, quickly draining energy. However, a cleaner fridge is a greener fridge.
3. Downgrade or upgrade your device
When it comes to energy saving appliances, smaller is always better and choosing a compact appliance where possible will minimize your energy consumption time after time. However, downsizing does not work for everyone; full-size appliances can be energy efficient too, and for households looking to conserve energy investing in a rated dishwasher, fridge, freezer or water cooler of large energy will reduce your utility output. Make sure you dispose of your old device correctly.
If you’re considering energy efficient appliances, why not upgrade your lighting too for the ultimate green kitchen? There are many energy saving light bulbs and fittings available on the market, each of which is designed to use less energy so you have more money to enjoy.
4. Change your food preparation habits
As well as switching your kitchen fixtures and fittings to more energy efficient alternatives, changing your habits can be just as effective. For many households, meal preparation allows the whole family to meet in the center of the house and teaching yourself and your children these green food preparation measures will ensure that you save on utility bills. -your energy for years to come…
- When you boil the kettle, boil only as much as you need.
- Cut food into smaller pieces to reduce cooking time.
- Keep the lid on the saucepan when using the hob, this will reduce heat loss and cooking time.
- When using the oven, keep the door closed at all times to conserve heat.
5. Don’t waste, don’t want
Food waste is one of the biggest contributors to carbon dioxide emissions, in fact it is estimated that more than half of the world’s food is thrown away, resulting in problems for our landfill sites and for the wider planet. Reducing how much food you waste will reduce your shopping bill and reduce harmful emissions that put our planet at risk.
Before you hit the shops, make a list and check the cupboards, freezer and fridge to determine what you really need. When cooking, never throw away leftovers, instead make and freeze large batches of food. These are perfect for eating when most people don’t want to go to the trouble of cooking. Freeze in individual portions to ensure the whole family can enjoy these leftovers.
By using these simple steps you can achieve a more eco-conscious kitchen, and ultimately make your family home greener and your bills more manageable.
This post was written by Brittany Thorley from Demolition of Cheshire, the UK’s leading specialist in skip salvage, reclamation and hire. Through her expertise in recycling and energy conservation, Brittany loves helping homeowners and other businesses get one step closer to a greener way of living.
