Saving Energy in the Kitchen

Now more than ever, saving energy has become a genuine issue. And it has become a major concern for pretty much every level of society. At the forefront of science and technology, the concern to produce new energy-saving technologies and techniques – as well as new sustainable forms of energy – is one of the areas where a massive amount of funding and research has been poured in.

It is certainly bearing fruit, and it has led to massive projects like hydroelectricity, battery-augmented power stations, and massive windfarm projects. At the household level, it has resulted in nifty new devices like 9V USB rechargeable smart batteries, replacing the household AA and AAA batteries that we have known for years. Battery experts Pale Blue Earth say that we can almost certainly expect this research and development to continue.

Furthermore, ordinary household owners are also concerned with saving energy – for environmental and financial reasons. The incentives, both to protect the environment and to keep the bills down are stronger than ever simply because energy is getting more expensive while the environment is being plunged ever further towards catastrophe. The surest hope certainly lies in a combination of new technologies and smart tips to help the ordinary homeowner save energy.

Table of Contents

Room By Room

For homeowners, one of the best tactics is to appraise energy consumption in the home, and to develop approaches to tackle energy over-consumption wherever it has become a problem. The kitchen is certainly one of the rooms in the home that receives the most attention, simply because in addition to lighting and heating this is where cooking, and sometimes washing, is done.

The good news here is that there is always something you can do, even if you cannot afford the latest energy-saving technologies. Simply by doing things a bit differently, you can certainly make a difference – and there are also several energy saving technologies that are affordable and can help you achieve this. The aforementioned rechargeable smart batteries are one; the humble energy-saving light bulb is another.

So focusing on the kitchen, here follows the top energy-saving tips that you can start to employ right now. Tech or no tech, these are sure to help in the long run:

Focus on the White Goods

It is certainly conceivable that you might use tablets and cell phones in the kitchen, but these are not the items that typically use the most energy and thereby rack up your bills. The so-called “white goods” – your dishwasher, oven, electric stove, microwave, and so on – is where to focus. Energy ratings systems are by now commonplace, and so it makes sense to kit your kitchen out with the very best white goods (and to pay attention to your usage habits with these appliances).

Consider Size

One way you can focus on white goods is to consider their size. Appliances have become more energy efficient, yes, but they also seem to come in more bigger models than they did only ten years ago. If you live alone, do you really need a full-size fridge or icebox? These are the considerations to make.

Do Not Leave Anything on Standby

Appliances on standby may not be in use, but they are usually using almost as much energy as when they are. All you need to do is to remember to unplug.

As these three tips show, the kitchen really is a place where a significant amount of energy can be wasted. If you are doing a room-by-room energy analysis of your home, the kitchen is a great place to start.