Kitchen
The kitchen is usually the hub of the home. It’s where we cook and clean, and often where we meet, greet and eat. It’s also where much of the energy in our homes is used.
On average:
- 13.8% of the electricity we use in our homes goes on cooking our food
- A further 16.8% goes on keeping the food fresh
- And 10% is used on wet appliances like the washing machine and dishwasher*
- Find out how much it costs to run your appliances here
Here are some of our tips for how you can save energy in the kitchen.
*All stats from the Energy Savings Trust
Use Eco mode
Lots of appliances, such as washing machines and dishwashers, have ‘eco’ or low energy modes, so try and use these modes as standard to save more energy.
Fill them up
Whether it's your dishwasher, washing machine or even your oven, make the most out of the appliance's energy use.
- Run washing machines and dishwashers when they are full.
- Add other items like baking potatoes to your oven when using to make the most of your oven space.
Go cold
You can save around £17 a year from your energy bill just by using your washing machine more carefully. Wash at 30 degrees and reduce your washing machine use by one run per week for a year. [Energy Saving Trust]
Check your fridge temperature 🌡
Your refrigerator’s temperature setting plays a crucial role in energy consumption. Keeping the temperature too low can cause your fridge to work harder than necessary, consuming excess energy. Similarly, setting the temperature too high can lead to food waste. The ideal temperature range for your fridge is between 3°C and 4°C, and your freezer should be set to -18°C.
Energy Smart Cooking
- It's much more energy efficient to heat water in a kettle, rather than on the stove. You can transfer it into a pan once it’s already boiled.
- Only boil as much water as you need in the kettle - add any surplus to a flask. It is much more energy efficient and helps to save you money.
- Always use a lid to cover your pots and pans – the water will boil much faster and use less energy to heat your food. Your food will even cook a bit quicker too!
- Turn off the heat a couple of minutes before your food is fully cooked -particularly if you’ve got an electric hob, as they take some time to cool down and will continue to cook your food.
Try not to open the oven door repeatedly – you’ll let out hot air and waste energy as the oven tries to heat it up again. If you can, take a look through the glass door instead.- Turn off your oven 10 minutes before your food is finished and it will continue cooking at the same temperature. This works really well with cakes too!
- Try to batch cook wherever possible and put the surplus in the freezer to be used another time. This helps to save energy and time cooking on those busy week nights.
- Defrost food in the fridge overnight rather than using a kitchen appliance.
Use Eco mode
Lots of appliances, such as washing machines and dishwashers, have ‘eco’ or low energy modes, so try and use these modes as standard to save more energy.
Fill them up
Whether it's your dishwasher, washing machine or even your oven, make the most out of the appliance's energy use.
- Run washing machines and dishwashers when they are full.
- Add other items like baking potatoes to your oven when using to make the most of your oven space.
Go cold
You can save around £17 a year from your energy bill just by using your washing machine more carefully. Wash at 30 degrees and reduce your washing machine use by one run per week for a year. [Energy Saving Trust]
Check your fridge temperature 🌡
Your refrigerator’s temperature setting plays a crucial role in energy consumption. Keeping the temperature too low can cause your fridge to work harder than necessary, consuming excess energy. Similarly, setting the temperature too high can lead to food waste. The ideal temperature range for your fridge is between 3°C and 4°C, and your freezer should be set to -18°C.
Energy Smart Cooking
- It's much more energy efficient to heat water in a kettle, rather than on the stove. You can transfer it into a pan once it’s already boiled.
- Only boil as much water as you need in the kettle - add any surplus to a flask. It is much more energy efficient and helps to save you money.
- Always use a lid to cover your pots and pans – the water will boil much faster and use less energy to heat your food. Your food will even cook a bit quicker too!
- Turn off the heat a couple of minutes before your food is fully cooked -particularly if you’ve got an electric hob, as they take some time to cool down and will continue to cook your food.
- Try not to open the oven door repeatedly – you’ll let out hot air and waste energy as the oven tries to heat it up again. If you can, take a look through the glass door instead.
- Turn off your oven 10 minutes before your food is finished and it will continue cooking at the same temperature. This works really well with cakes too!
- Try to batch cook wherever possible and put the surplus in the freezer to be used another time. This helps to save energy and time cooking on those busy week nights.
- Defrost food in the fridge overnight rather than using a kitchen appliance.
Consider an air fryer
For households of 2-4 purchasing an air fryer to use in place of your oven may be a cost efficient and energy efficient investment, as it cooks your food much quicker and takes less time to heat than a conventional oven. Some estimates say you could save up to £279.66 a year if you use an air fryer instead of an electric oven. [BBC Good Food]
Consider an air fryer
For households of 2-4 purchasing an air fryer to use in place of your oven may be a cost efficient and energy efficient investment, as it cooks your food much quicker and takes less time to heat than a conventional oven. Some estimates say you could save up to £279.66 a year if you use an air fryer instead of an electric oven. [BBC Good Food]
Buy efficient
When buying new appliances try and get the highest energy efficiency rated product you can afford. Buying an A+++ fridge can save £15 a year compared to an A+ rated fridge. [Energy Saving Trust]
Try searching for these highly rates appliances second hand to help save you energy, money and waste!
Buy efficient
When buying new appliances try and get the highest energy efficiency rated product you can afford. Buying an A+++ fridge can save £15 a year compared to an A+ rated fridge. [Energy Saving Trust]
Try searching for these highly rates appliances second hand to help save you energy, money and waste!
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