From appliances and lighting to home sealing, there are several areas to improve the energy efficiency of your kitchen and save on energy bills.
Light Fixture: Kitchen fixtures are some of the most used light fixtures in a home. ENERGY STAR qualified lighting fixtures are available in popular styles that may be just right for your kitchen, such as cabinet-mounted, ceiling-mounted, and recessed can models. ENERGY STAR qualified lighting provides bright, warm light while using 75% less energy, generating 70% less heat and lasting up to 10 times longer than standard lighting. Install ENERGY STAR qualified light fixtures or replace standard light bulbs.
Floor Vents/Radiators: Make sure all air registers or floor vents are clear of furniture so that the air can circulate freely. If your home has radiators, place heat-resistant reflectors between radiators and walls for iIn the winter, this will help heat the room instead of the wall.
Range Hood: ENERGY STAR qualified ventilation fans use 60% less energy on average than standard models, saving more than $60 in electricity costs over the life of the fan. They are quieter and use high-performance motors and improved blade design, providing better performance and longer product life. Qualified models can be found at many home improvement stores or from your HVAC or electrical contractor. Install an ENERGY STAR qualified kitchen range hood to help control moisture and remove odors from cooking.
Windows: During the winter months, replace your screens with storm windows to provide an extra barrier to the cold outside air. Caulk and weather-strip around windows and doors that leak air. If replacing windows, choose . With proper installation to ensure all gaps around them are sealed, ENERGY STAR qualified windows can help improve your comfort, cut drafts, and reduce fading of interior furnishings.
Dishwashers: Save water by scraping dishes instead of rinsing them before loading in the dishwasher. Run your dishwasher with a full load and use the air-dry option if available. Rinsing dirty dishes before loading your dishwasher uses a lot of water and energy. Most dishwashers today can thoroughly clean dishes that have had food scraped, rather than rinsed, off — the wash cycle and detergent take care of the rest. To make the most efficient use of your dishwasher's energy and water consumption, run the dishwasher only when enough dirty dishes have accumulated for a full load. Replacing an old dishwasher? Appliances account for about 12% of your energy bill. Newer, more energy-efficient models save energy and water. If replacing your dishwasher, consider an ENERGY STAR model, which can save energy and water.
Refrigerator: Look for the ENERGY STAR when purchasing a new refrigerator. And recycle your old refrigerator in the garage or other room of your home, because it is costing you more money than you may think. If your current refrigerator was made before 1993, it uses twice the amount of energy used by new models. A new ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator uses less energy than a 60-watt light bulb run continuously. And ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator models use at least 20% less energy than required by current federal standards.Many homes have older refrigerators in their garage or basement for overflow storage. and it can cost a lot to operate. You can save from $300-$700 by not running your second refrigerator over the next 5 years. By unplugging your second refrigerator and properly recycling it, you can also prevent 5,500 to 20,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.
Range: Use the right sized pot on stove burners. A 6" pot on an 8" burner wastes over 40 percent of the burner's heat. Also, cover pots and pans to keep heat in. Using the right sized pot on stove burners can save about $36 annually for an electric range, or $18 for gas. Covering pots and pans also helps you cook more efficiently and keeps your kitchen cooler. Have a gas range? Keep the burners clean to ensure maximum efficiency. Blue flames mean good combustion; yellow flames mean service may be needed to ensure the gas is burning efficiently.
Microwave: Use your microwave or toaster oven to reheat or cook small portions.You can reduce cooking energy by as much as 80 percent when using your microwave for small portions This also helps save on a/c costs in summer, since less heat is generated when compared to using your stove or oven.
Kitchen Sink: Repair any faucet leaks. A leaky faucet can waste gallons of water. Learn more. Hot water leaking at a rate of 1 drip per second can waste up to 1,661 gallons of water over the course of a year, and waste up to $35 in electricity or in natural gas. Fixing drips is a cost-effective and easy way to save energy.
Cordless Phones: Look for ENERGY STAR qualified cordless phones that feature switch-mode power supplies and “smart” chargers for added energy savings.
