Just when we thought they couldn’t get any higher… they’re about to escalate even further. Energy prices are uppermost on many of our minds these days. So, it makes sense to start seeking out areas where we can reduce just how much gas and electricity we use in our home.
One of the biggest energy guzzling rooms in any house – whether it’s a family home or single person unit – is the kitchen. According to the Energy Savings Trust here in the UK we use up 13.8 per cent of all energy in our homes on cooking. Freezing or cooling our food takes up a further 16.8 per cent.
But the good news is, there are ways to cut down our consumption even in there. And here’s some ways you can start doing exactly that, right here:
Forget standby.
Yes, you need to keep your fridge and freezer plugged in and switched on. But you really can’t say the same for the kettle, radio, microwave, undercabinet lighting and phone charger. The sooner you switch appliances off completely, the more money you’ll save come October when energy prices are set to rocket again.
Use the slow cooker more.
According to the Centre for Sustainable Energy, a slow cooker uses just 0.7kWh of energy for EIGHT hours cooking time. Compare this to an electric oven at 2-2.2kWh per average meal and the microwave of between 0.6 to 1.5kWh to heat up a meal. Better still, slow cookers are great for cooking delicious curries, stews and tagines.
Steam your vegetables.
Sitting your veg steamer on top of a pot which is already cooking something (such as potatoes) means you’re cooking the side dish for free.
Use lids.
When you put a lid on top of a pot that’s cooking on the stove you’re keeping in the heat and ensuring the food cooks quicker.
Switch down.
If you have an electric cooker then switch off the ring a couple of minutes before your food is ready. Otherwise it’ll still be hot when you take the pot off. Worse, it will continue to be warm while it slowly cools down – and all it’ll be heating up is the air. You can also save money by switching off the oven 10 minutes early as the food will still cook as it cools. And on that note, pasta can cook in pre-heated water (it doesn’t need to be in constantly boiling water).
Defrost naturally.
Defrosting food in the microwave is a waste of energy when all you need to do is put the food in the fridge overnight.
Buy energy efficient appliances.
If you need to replace an appliance then make sure you go for the greenest version you can afford. All appliances are rated, with A+++ being the most efficient. Not only will a ‘green’ appliance help with your ongoing utility costs, but it’s better for the planet too.
Fill appliances.
Only half filling your washing machine or dishwasher is a waste of energy and means you’ll end up putting on more loads than you have to. Do the opposite with the kettle though – only fill it with the water you need.
Check door seals.
If the seals on your fridge, freezer or oven door aren’t working properly then heat will be escaping. If you put a piece of paper between the seal and door and it falls then you need new seals.
Batch cook.
Electric ovens in the UK use up around typical 0.87 kWh of electricity an hour. At the moment the tariff is 28p per kWh. That means using the oven for one hour a day costs £1.68 a week, £7.30 per month and £87.60 for the year. It makes sense then to fill the oven when it’s on – and the best way to do that is to batch cook. It’s a win-win ‘cos it’ll also save you money on your food bill when you buy in bulk.
Why not take a look at our energy saving white goods and appliances today at Cookology?
