Our kitchen is a room where you spend time cooking and preparing food. Your appliances consume energy, and some appliances use a large amount of electricity and water. Using green appliances that save energy is a way to make your kitchen more eco-friendly. Energy Star is a government agency that rates appliances on energy saving features. When you buy stoves, dishwashers, refrigerators, and small appliances, look for energy-saving labels.
Green and Energy Efficient Stoves
Gas stoves are known to be the most energy efficient. The stove heats quickly and does not use much energy to cook your food. The lower the BTU of the stove, the more energy efficient the stove will be. Gas stoves are not as healthy as electric ones because they release gasses into the air. Your bill will be half of what an electric stove costs to heat when you use gas with an electronic ignition, not a pilot light.
The electric stove that saves consumers the most energy is one that has induction cooktops that require metal cookware to cook food properly. These stoves are higher priced. Ceramic glass cooktop electric stoves are energy efficient and the second choice.
When using your stove, cook as much as possible at one time and try to keep the door closed. Each time you open the door you lose energy. Think about how you want to reheat food, as using the microwave saves energy. Glass or ceramic cookware is more energy efficient for cooking inside the oven.
Refrigerators
Top mount refrigerators use about 10-30% less energy than side by side. When looking for an energy-efficient refrigerator, consider not having an ice and water dispenser. Consider buying a smaller unit that does not use as much electricity. Some models have an energy-saving switch that you can turn on and off. Most energy-saving models are between 16-20 cubic feet. Keeping your refrigerator temperatures low can reduce food waste. Green appliances save you energy and money.
Dishwashers
Look for dishwashers that save water and have a soil sensor that monitors how dirty the dishes really are. Water filtration systems in dishwashers have improved and this is what filters food from the water during washing. Dishwashers with a high drying temperature rate are more energy efficient. To save energy, only run full loads of dishes. Do not rinse dishes off in the sink before loading them into the dishwasher. Load the dishwasher correctly and do not waste space.
Green Small Appliances
Small appliances can save energy in the kitchen. Pressure cookers and crockpots can cook an entire meal using less energy. You can cook a meal in a pressure cooker more quickly because it is closed, and air and water do not escape. A crockpot once it reaches the temperature for cooking can keep your food warm for six hours using less electricity.
Both are small countertop appliances that can cook stews, soups, and entire meals quickly. Electric kettles and those made for induction cooktops are energy efficient. One tip when heating water on the stove is to only heat the amount of water you need to not overfill. Some kettles are insulated and will keep water hot a few hours after boiling.
Overall, green appliances will save you energy and reduce your electricity bill. They are a worthwhile investment for converting your kitchen to an eco-friendly green environment.
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