GoodCharlie

There are simple and practical ways you can reduce the energy load in your kitchen—as well as some tips that will help make the entire home more comfortable so you don't have to seek refuge in the nearest air-conditioned restaurant.

Limit Pre-heating: Many recipes require pre-heating, but some suggest longer pre-heating times than necessary. Use your oven's display or an oven thermometer to know when it's ready. Note that skipping pre-heating might extend cooking time.

Keep the Oven Door Closed: Each time you open the oven door, the temperature drops by 25 degrees. Use the oven light or a digital timer to avoid opening the door frequently.

Use a Meat Thermometer: An oven-proof meat thermometer with a digital meter helps ensure your meat is cooked to the right temperature without needing to open the oven door.

Clean the Door Seal: Regularly clean the seal on your oven door with a kitchen degreaser to maintain heat efficiency.

- Limit Pre-heating: Many recipes require pre-heating, but some suggest longer pre-heating times than necessary. Use your oven's display or an oven thermometer to know when it's ready. Note that skipping pre-heating might extend cooking time.
- Keep the Oven Door Closed: Each time you open the oven door, the temperature drops by 25 degrees. Use the oven light or a digital timer to avoid opening the door frequently.
- Use a Meat Thermometer: An oven-proof meat thermometer with a digital meter helps ensure your meat is cooked to the right temperature without needing to open the oven door.
- Clean the Door Seal: Regularly clean the seal on your oven door with a kitchen degreaser to maintain heat efficiency.

Cover Your Food: Covered foods limit moisture evaporation, reducing the work your refrigerator's compressor needs to do. It also helps keep your fridge smelling fresh.

Clean the Coils: Annually clean or dust the coils on the back of your refrigerator to help the compressor cool faster and run less frequently, saving energy and extending the unit’s life.

Explore More Tips: Check out the Energy Saver pages for advice on purchasing a new refrigerator and proper use and temperature settings.

- Cover Your Food: Covered foods limit moisture evaporation, reducing the work your refrigerator's compressor needs to do. It also helps keep your fridge smelling fresh.
- Clean the Coils: Annually clean or dust the coils on the back of your refrigerator to help the compressor cool faster and run less frequently, saving energy and extending the unit’s life.
- Explore More Tips: Check out the Energy Saver pages for advice on purchasing a new refrigerator and proper use and temperature settings.

Use Other Appliances: Consider using microwaves, toaster ovens, convection ovens, air fryers, slow cookers, pressure cookers, and other small appliances. They use less energy and generate less heat than a standard oven.

Use Fans: Install a ceiling fan in the kitchen or dining area to circulate air and keep cool. Whole-house or attic fans can also help move hot air out of your home.

Use Energy-Efficient Lighting: Replace incandescent bulbs, recessed downlights, and under-cabinet lighting with LED lights. LEDs use far less energy and generate almost no heat, unlike incandescents which release 90% of their energy as heat.

- Use Other Appliances: Consider using microwaves, toaster ovens, convection ovens, air fryers, slow cookers, pressure cookers, and other small appliances. They use less energy and generate less heat than a standard oven.
- Use Fans: Install a ceiling fan in the kitchen or dining area to circulate air and keep cool. Whole-house or attic fans can also help move hot air out of your home.
- Use Energy-Efficient Lighting: Replace incandescent bulbs, recessed downlights, and under-cabinet lighting with LED lights. LEDs use far less energy and generate almost no heat, unlike incandescents which release 90% of their energy as heat.