How to Save Electricity in the Kitchen

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The Problem

Your kitchen is one of the best places to start reducing power use. There are heaps of little changes you could make to shave a bit extra off your power use, but really most of the electrcity is used by a few energy-hungry appliances. Focus on these appliances first before you start worrying about all the small changes.

Start with your refrigerator...

Refrigerators use 14 percent of a home’s electricity so buy the smallest fridge for your needs and make sure it has the highest possible energy efficiency. The difference between two fridges of the same capacity with diffferent energy star ratings can be hundreds of kg of CO₂. Today’s most efficient refrigerators use half the power of one built 10 years ago, so it really is worth considering an upgrade if your's was built last millenium.

Place the fridge in a cool spot out of direct sunlight and make sure it has good air circulation around the sides and back - this alone can save up to 150kg of CO₂/year. If the condensor coils are exposed, give them a dust-down every 6 months.

Keep the door seals clean and make sure they are in good condition. If you can put a piece of paper in the door and pull it out easily or if your freezer ices up quickly then the seals need repairing or replacing.

If you have a second fridge (and usually they're pretty old and inefficient) switch it off unless you really need it and you'll save up to a 1000kg of CO₂ and $130 each year

Only set your fridge as cold as you need it. Set your fridge temperature to between 3–5°C (38-40°F) Setting it 1°C lower than necessary releases 15 to 50 kilograms more greenhouse gas each year.

Other ways to save electricity in the kitchen

Choose local produce. If you start considering how much energy goes into making the food you eat then you can really make a difference beyond the doors of your own home. Processed, imported food is the worst as it involves fossil-fueled energy input at every stage of producing, packing & delivering it to you.
Cook using the most efficient methods. Unless you a running a commercial kitchen you probably aren't operating any cooking equipment for extended periods, so you won't be making huge savings in this area. Just remember these guidelines.

The basic rule to follow is this: Use the smallest cooking device you can ie a toaster oven is better than an oven; a small saucepan on a small burner is better than a large saucepan on a large burner. Your oven is the least efficient way to cook, so if possible use a microwave or stovetop cooking method - and if you use saucepans put lids on.

Gas vs Electricity? Gas is cheaper but not hugely more efficient than electricity and it will always be a non-renewable resource whereas electricity has the potential to be generated from green sources. New technologies like induction hotplates eliminate many of the disadvantages of electrical hotplates. A microwave uses about a 5th of the power of cooking in the oven.
Choose energy efficient appliances Make it a general rule to only buy the most efficient appliances you can afford. It's not just an environmental decision, there are other benefits to doing this. Usually the most efficient appliances are the best quality so they will last you longer and need fewer repairs. And due to their high level of efficiency you will find your electricity and water bills will be lower, saving you money. For example an efficient dishwasher will use less than half the water and one-quarter of the electricity of a 10-year-old model.

Other related articles: Reduce hot water use

Tools & Resources

These websites will help you choose appliances that save electricity in your kitchen.
See www.energyrating.gov.au to compare products
and www.energyallstars.gov.au to see the leading products.

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