Some food for thought to keep your energy bills down.
Fridges and freezers
This is the biggest energy user in most kitchens, especially as many people now have 2 fridges and a freezer.
Here’s some food for thought to keep your energy bills down:
- Adjust control thermostats to maintain the temperature in the fridge and in the freezer
- Listen to your fridge. Manufacturers advise that refrigeration compressor units should only cycle on 30% of the day, so if you have a continually running unit it’s time for a health check
- Make sure you replace loose or broken seals. Check seals by placing a piece of paper between the door and the seal and then pulling on the paper. If it moves too easily, you need a new seal
- Place food slightly apart on refrigerator shelves for correct air circulation, and remove all heavy wrapping paper before storing foods in the refrigerator
- Fridges and freezers operate at peak efficiency when full, so choose one that’s the right size for your needs
- Defrost chest-type freezers at least 1-2 a year and upright models 2- 3 times a year, and never allow frost build-up to exceed 6mm. Ice can act as insulation, making your freezer work harder than necessary
- Turn off, empty and clean the refrigerator and leave the door open when you are away for an extended period.
Oven and cook top
Smart use of these appliances is all that’s needed to save energy:
- Thaw frozen foods before cooking to save approximately 15 minutes cooking time per 500 grams
- Try to keep the oven door completely closed until food is cooked.
- Be sure pots and pans completely cover hotplates
- It’s best to cook with lids on pots and pans. You’ll achieve better cooking results, including less evaporation, as well as reducing steam and cooking smells in the kitchen
- Consider using a pressure cooker to save energy and cook faster.
- Clean gas burners regularly to remove food spill caught in the small holes in the burner rings. This ensures a constant and even gas distribution and flame size for more efficient cooking.
Dishwasher
Follow these tips to reduce your energy use, as well as your water use:
- Connect your dishwasher to cold water
- Make the most of all functions on your dishwasher. Small load or half load options, short wash cycles, rinse-only cycles and mid-cycle turn off can all save you energy and time
- Check that nothing is preventing the wash arms from rotating properly before you start the dishwasher.
