Save When Cooking
- Make sure your oven door closes tightly.
- Use a microwave rather than conventional oven, when possible. Nothing is more energy efficient for cooking than your microwave. It uses two-thirds less energy than your stove.
- Keep the center of the pan over the element, and keep the lid on when cooking on the stove top.
- Only boil the amount of water that you need, just ensure there is enough water to cover the heating element. Turn the element or electric kettle down as soon as it reaches the boiling point.
- By using kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans to remove excess heat and moisture, you may save each month on your overall cooling bill.
Save on Your Fridge and Freezer
- Defrost your fridge regularly. When ice builds up, your freezer uses more electricity. If it frosts up again quickly, check that the door seals are strong and intact.
- If possible, don't place the fridge next to the oven or other hot appliances. Also, make sure there's plenty of ventilation space behind and above it.
- Keep the fridge at 40°F and the freezer at 0°F. Empty and then turn off your fridge if you go on a long vacation (but make sure you leave the door open).
- Aim to keep your fridge at least three-quarters full to maintain maximum efficiency. A full fridge keeps it from warming up too fast when the door is open, so it won't have to work as hard to stay cool.
- Avoid putting warm or hot food in the fridge or freezer, as it requires more energy to cool it down.
- Unplug or recycle that spare refrigerator in the garage if you don't really need it.
