Make Your Kitchen More
Energy Efficient
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a) Kitchen Appliances
Install energy efficient labelled kitchen
appliances (refrigerators, dishwashers, and
clothes washers). Every kitchen appliance has
two price tags – a purchase price and the
operating cost. Energy efficient models will
save you money and use less energy.
b) Lighting
- Install energy efficient labelled lighting (e.g.,
light fixtures: suspended lights, ceiling-
mounted lights, cabinet lights, recessed lights,
and compact fluorescent bulbs).
c) Refrigerator
- In most households, the refrigerator is the
single biggest energy consuming kitchen
appliance. Energy efficient refrigerator models
use high efficiency compressors, improved
insulation, and more precise temperature and
defrost mechanisms to improve energy
efficiency. Energy efficient refrigerators
provide energy savings without sacrificing the
features you want.
- Keep your refrigerator and freezer filled for
most economical operation. Less cold air is
lost when the door is opened in a filled
refrigerator because the food helps retain the
cold.
- Allow foods to partially cool before placing
them in the refrigerator. It takes more energy
to cool hot food. For added savings, cover
foods and liquids. The moisture that is
released by uncovered containers increases
energy use during the refrigerator's defrost
cycle.
- Select a refrigerator with a freezer on top. A
side-by side unit uses up to 20 percent more
energy. The Energy Guide label will help you
choose the most efficient model.
d) Oven
- Don't open the oven door to take a peek at what's cooking inside. Instead, turn on the oven
light and check the cooking status through the oven window. Opening the oven door lowers
the temperature inside - by as much as 25 degrees - which increases cooking time and
wastes energy.
-As long as your oven is on, cook several items at the same time. Just make sure you leave
enough room for the heat to circulate around each item.
- In an electric oven, you can turn the heat off several minutes before your food is fully cooked.
As long as the oven door remains closed, enough heat will be stored inside to finish cooking
your meal.
e) Dishwasher
- Let your dishes air dry. A dishwasher uses more energy to dry dishes than to wash them. If
your dishwasher doesn't have an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the
final rinse and prop the door open to let moisture escape.
- When purchasing a dishwasher, look for energy saving features such as a short wash cycle.
Shorter washing cycles, with fewer rinses, save water and water-heating energy.
- Use your dishwasher only for full loads. Be sure your dishwasher is full, but not overloaded
when you turn it on. Improper loading can result in poorly cleaned dishes that need to be
rewashed.
- Install your dishwasher away from your refrigerator. The dishwasher's heat and moisture
make the refrigerator work harder. Keep your refrigerator away from other heat sources such
as direct sunlight.
f) Kitchen Walls, Windows and Doors
- If your remodelling plans include opening walls you could improve your comfort and the
energy efficiency of your home by adding insulation and air sealing. If you are replacing the
windows, doors, and skylights, install those with the energy efficient label to make your
kitchen the most energy efficient on the block.
