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 stovetop.
- 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.
