When properly informed on what appliances to buy for your kitchen, you can save energy as well as cash, while helping the environment.
When you add up all the appliances found in a standard kitchen, the microwave, refrigerator, washer, dryer, electric stove, toaster oven, coffee maker, blender, juicer, it is not surprising to find high electric bills at the end of each month. But did you know that electrical appliances actually now cost 50% less in electric bills than they did 10-15 years ago?
This is where supporting the environment when buying appliances comes in. The less electricity consumed, the less energy drainage from the natural resources, less pollution created, and less overall destruction of our planet.
There are now appliances available that carry a label called an ‘energy star’, either on the packaging or on the product itself, which indicates that appliance’s level of energy efficiency. If this label is not clearly shown, then be sure to ask the seller if that appliance complies. This Energy Star label is governed by rules issued through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which are considered the strictest and highest standards in the world. By choosing only those appliances that show this label, you can be assured that product has been rated as energy efficient.
Other simple ways to save money and energy can be easy, such as checking to be sure that the refrigerator door catches properly. Energy leakages from an improperly closed fridge door can result in an increase in your electric bills. Over a year, that cost will really add up.
When cooking, use flat-bottomed pots and pans as they allow for more direct contact with the element, and therefore save any heat loss. An old, warped pan can use 50% more energy to heat foods. The best choice in pots and pans are those copper-bottomed ones as they heat up much faster than the standard pots and pans. Be sure that the pot size matches the burner size, as you can lose up to 40% of the heat if the burner is larger than the pot used.
These tips can help you to keep money in your pocket as well as help save the planet. Every little change in our lifestyles will, in the end, help everyone.
Contact us for more energy saving tips to save money and save the planet.