If It Is Thursday It's Going Green - Kitchen Appliances

Some of the following suggestions are really just a reminder that small changes in our daily habits can make a difference in energy consumption. These changes can reduce your utility bills and will also help the environment.

Use Your Refrigerator More Efficiently:

A typical home uses 600-1200 kwh per year for refrigeration and freezing. These habits, settings and maintenance tips can cut that by 100-200 kwh!

Keep your refrigerator filled to capacity, but don't overcrowd to the point where doors cannot be closed or air cannot circulate.

Do not put uncovered liquids in the refrigerator. The liquids give off vapors that add to the compressor workload.

Allow hot food to cool off before putting it in the refrigerator.

Think before you open: remove all ingredients for each meal at one time. The more you open the doors, the harder your fridge has to work to keep things cool.

Temperature: Keep your refrigerator at 37°- 40° F and your freezer at 5°F.

Try switching off the power-saver switch, if your refrigerator has one. If only a small amount of condensation appears, save energy and leave the switch off.

Vacuum the condenser coils (underneath or behind the unit) every three months or so.

Check the condition of door gaskets by placing a dollar bill against the frame and closing the door. If the bill can be pulled out with a very gentle tug, the door should be adjusted or the gasket replaced.

Use your range and oven more efficiently:

A typical home uses 200-700 kwh per year with its range/oven. Following these tips gets you in the low end of the "range." No peeking! Develop the habit of "lids-on" cooking to allow lower temperature settings. Rearrange oven shelves before turning your oven on, and don't peek at food in the oven! Every time you open the oven door, 25°-50°F is lost. Begin cooking on highest heat until liquid begins to boil. Then lower the heat control settings and allow food to simmer until fully cooked. Cook as much of the meal in the oven at one time as possible. When preheating an oven for baking, time the preheat period carefully. Five to eight minutes should be sufficient. There is no need to preheat the oven for broiling or roasting. Carefully measure water used for cooking to avoid having to heat more than is needed. Include more stews, stir-frys, and other single-dish meals in your menus. Only use pots and pans with flat bottoms on the stove. Keep reflector pans beneath stovetop heating elements bright and clean. Use the self-cleaning cycle only for major cleaning jobs. Start the cycle right after cooking while the oven is still hot, or wait until late in the evening when electricity usage is low. ***** Don't forget - together we can make a difference!