subject: Going Green With Your Kitchen Appliances [print this page] Here is a breakdown evaluation of an average household's use of energy: space heating and cooling - 44%, water heating - 13%, lighting - 12%, refrigeration - 8%, home electronics - 6%, laundry appliances - 5%, kitchen appliances - 4%, other home energy users - 8%.
As obvious as it may seem, saving money and energy within the home is minimizing what you use, and the best way to do this is by looking at the biggest culprits. As you can see, appliances can use as much as 16% of your household's energy. Refrigerators, cookers, dishwashers, ovens and microwaves it all adds up.
First, start with an educated choice over the appliances you buy. Choose home kitchen appliances that carry the energy star logo, meaning that they use up to 15% less energy than other models. Each appliance has an energy efficiency rating that is based on its annual energy consumption in comparison to other appliances. A higher rating obviously means a more expensive appliance, but eco-friendly appliances will pay you the difference within a few years in energy cost savings. Always buy appliances that match the capacity of your needs. If you have one child, then you will not need a very big fridge, for example. Consider the opportunity of checking out kitchen showrooms because they will give you a better, rounded approach to both going green and how this will work with your kitchen design.
When you use your appliances, make sure you run everything on full. Do not run the washing machine when you can only half fill it with clothes, wait until you have a full load. The same goes for the dishwasher. If you can use cold water for both and still get the same results as with hot water, than do it.
Your microwave can save you a lot of money. It uses about 14% less energy than your oven so if you are re-heating food or making small to medium-sized meals, use your microwave instead. Pressure cookers can save energy simply because of their incredibly quick cooking times. Even changing the way you cook can save you money. A 6 inch pan on an 8 inch burner waste 40% of the heat, and always use a pan lid.
When it comes to cooking, choosing between gas and electric can be tough as there isn't one that is particularly greener than the other. Natural gas is a fossil fuel, but most electricity comes from coal-burning power plants. Gas might win though, since it is easier to control temperatures and therefore less heat is wasted. As a guide, the lower the BTU output on a stove, the more energy-efficient it is.
With electric stoves, the most efficient are those that use induction elements as they use less than half the energy of standard coil elements, however this technology is typically only available in higher-priced models
In reality, the removal of your finished appliances should be done following contact with your local governing body because they will know the right dtails about take-back programs or recycling so that you can safely and properly get rid of them.
To minimize landfill waste, choose cookware and utensils that will last. Non-stick products generally have a limited life span, choose stainless steel or cast iron instead that will last generations. Additionally buy quality utensils and cloth towels instead of paper.
