energy efficient equipment

What is an energy efficient appliance, Energy-saving tips, Energy-saving appliances, Stoves, Cooking Practices

what is an energy efficient appliance?

Appliances that are energy efficient use less electricity to achieve the same level of performance to similar models with the same size or capacity. The more energy efficient a model, the less energy it will use and the less it will cost you to run.

Your kitchen contains a host of energy-using appliances and there are ways to reduce their energy use. First, buy the most efficient units possible. This includes refrigerators, dishwashers, and stoves. (There isn’t much difference in microwave oven efficiency.) Identifying the most efficient models is simple: just look for the EnergyStar label. This assures you that it’s among the top efficient models.

For refrigerators avoid the automatic ice maker and drink dispenser because they cause more breakdowns and leaks, in addition to increasing energy use. Can you consolidate one refrigerator for two that you already have? A second refrigerator freezer, especially an older one, greatly increases your energy costs.

Selecting the most efficient stove is also important. Induction stoves are now the most efficient and provide features not available with traditional electric or gas stoves. Induction stoves are still more expensive but the energy savings can repay the extra cost (especially if you cook at lot).

energy saving kitchen tips

If you aren’t buying any new appliances, you can still practice energy-saving behaviors. Those can cut your energy use in half in some cases. Some of the most efficient conservation practices are

Covering cooking pans/pots

Using an electric kettle instead of running hot water

Loading the dishwasher fully before washing

Relatively small measures, such as reducing the number of times the refrigerator is opened

Removing extra refrigerators/freezers

Placing the faucet lever on the kitchen sink in the cold position when using small amounts of water; placing the lever in the hot position draws hot water even though it may never reach the faucet.

Looking for blue flames in natural gas appliances; yellow flames indicate the gas is burning inefficiently and an adjustment may be needed. If you see yellow flames, consult the manufacturer or your local utility.

Keeping range-top burners and reflectors clean; they will reflect the heat better, and you will save energy.

Using a covered kettle or pan or electric kettle to boil water; it's faster and uses less energy.

Matching the size of the pan to the heating element when cooking.

Using the microwave oven when possible

Using small electric pans, toaster ovens, or convection ovens for small meals rather than your large stove or oven. A toaster or convection oven uses one-third to one-half as much energy as a full-sized oven.

Not setting your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Recommended temperatures are 35°-38°F for the fresh food compartment and 0° F for separate freezers for long-term storage.

Making sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door over a piece of paper or a dollar bill so it is half in and half out of the refrigerator. If you can pull the paper or bill out easily, the latch may need adjustment, the seal may need replacing, or you may consider buying a new unit.

Regularly defrosting manual-defrost freezers and refrigerators; frost buildup decreases the energy efficiency of the unit. Don't allow frost to build up more than one-quarter of an inch.

a look at energy saving appliances

By purchasing an Energy Star-certified refrigerator, for example, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 8,200 pounds over five years, the equivalent of driving 9,300 miles in your car.

If your appliances are still in working condition, sell or donate them rather than throw them away. Someone who needs them could still get some use out of them. If they’re ready to be tossed, find an appliance recycling program near you. This is especially important with refrigerators, which contain greenhouse gases that must be removed professionally to keep them out of the atmosphere.

energy efficient refrigerators

Your refrigerator uses the most electricity of all your kitchen appliances, but older fridges drain much more power than today’s models do. According to Energy Star, refrigerators 15 years or older use twice as much energy as a new Energy Star-certified model.

But there are efficiency variations among the new fridges, too, depending on the style. Our tests show that top-freezers and bottom-freezers are more energy-efficient than side-by-sides and French-door models, while no built-in fridge we’ve tested earns an Excellent rating for energy efficiency. Other factors to consider: Models with an automatic icemaker, through-the-door ice and water dispensers, and an anti-sweat heater consume up to 20 percent more energy.

energy-saving dishwashers

Today’s dishwashers use about half the water and energy that models used 20 years ago—down to about 4 to 6 gallons per load. Still, an Energy Star-certified dishwasher is 12 percent more efficient than a noncertified one, so look for that label if you want to make the biggest difference.

Many dishwashers in CR’s ratings earn an Excellent score for energy efficiency, but the very best energy-efficient dishwashers also earn top scores for washing and drying.

energy efficient ranges

Induction ranges are currently the most energy-efficient. They’re also routinely the top performers in our range tests. Using electromagnetic technology, the stovetops suck up about 15 percent less power than electric coil ones. The burners also heat up water faster than even the most powerful electric and gas stoves.

If you’re not quite ready for induction or don’t have the funds for one (the models in our ratings start around $1,000), a newer electric smoothtop or coil range will still be better for you and the environment than a gas range, which loses lots of heat while in use and releases fumes that contribute significantly to indoor air pollution.

As for the oven, opt for one with convection, a fan setting that typically uses 20 percent less energy than a standard oven. Self-cleaning models are also a bit better when it comes to heat loss because they’re insulated.

a deeper dive on stoves

When it comes to the stove top, it can be a tough choice between gas and electric; natural gas is a fossil fuel, but most of the electricity in the US comes from coal-burning power plants.

The stove you ultimately choose will probably depend on price and lifestyle, so the greenest choice you can make is really to pick the option that you'll be able to live with for at least a decade or more, which will save on materials and resources from a manufacturing standpoint.

gas stoves

From a straight-up cooking perspective, many cooks prefer gas because it's easier to control temperatures; it also offers instant-on heat, and doesn't waste much heat when the cooking is done. If you're a gas devotee shopping for a new stove, know that the lower the BTU output, the more energy-efficient your stove will be.

However, remember that gas stoves are generally unhealthier than electric stoves, as they can add between 25 and 39 percent more NO2 and CO to the air.

induction cooktops

With electricity, the most efficient stoves are those that use induction elements, which transfer electromagnetic energy directly to the pan, leaving the cook-top itself relatively cool and using less than half the energy of standard coil elements. One drawback is that induction-element cook-tops require the use of metal cookware such stainless steel, cast iron, or enameled iron—aluminum and glass pots won't work—and since the technology is still relatively, they're generally only found in higher-priced models.

ceramic-glass cooktops

The same goes for units with ceramic-glass surfaces, which use halogen elements as the heat source, making them the next best choice from an efficiency standpoint. These deliver heat instantly and respond quickly to changes in temperature settings. (They're also very easy to clean, which is a bonus). But they only work efficiently when there is good contact between the pan and the hot glass surface; energy will go to waste if pan bottoms are even slightly rounded.

electric coils

Standard electric coils—those spiral types we're all used to seeing—by the way, are at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to energy efficiency. If you go for an electric stove, no matter which you choose, opt for the most efficiency-efficient model possible, then purchase green power to support electricity from clean, renewable sources.

energy-saving cooking practices

Many popular cooking techniques use energy that isn't needed. A few simple adaptations to your cooking methods can be a major step to a greener kitchen overall.

stop preheating

Preheating is almost prehistoric. Many newer ovens come to temperature so rapidly, they make preheating almost obsolete (except perhaps for soufflés and other delicate dishes). If you're roasting or baking something that's a little flexible when it comes to cooking time, you can put it in right away, then turn the oven off five or ten minutes early, and let dishes finish cooking in the residual heat. (Ditto for anything cooked on an electric stove top.)

limit oven use

Making as best use of the oven as possible—cooking more than one thing at once, for instance—is also wise. For small dishes, using a toaster oven, or reheating in a microwave will also save energy; in fact, Energy Star estimates that you can reduce cooking energy by as much as 80% when using the microwave instead of the oven.

use stoves efficiently

When cooking on the stove, using a properly sized pot for each of the stove burners also makes a difference; on an electric stove, for example, a 6-inch pot used on an 8-inch burner wastes more than 40% of the burner's heat. Make sure all of your pots and pans have close-fitting lids, then use them whenever possible—including when you're bringing boiled water up to temperature—which helps reducing cooking time and keeps heat where it belongs, in the pan.

try a pressure cooker

Pressure cookers are another great way to save energy, reducing cooking time by up to 70%

eat raw foods

Of course, the most energy-efficient cooking means leaving heat out of the equation altogether—don't forget about salads, chilled soups, and other dishes that require little prep and can be eaten cold. There's a large niche culture growing around the idea of raw food; don't be afraid to try something new!

There are a lot of benefits when you go the energy efficient way. Using energy efficient appliances, you’ll not only save money and reduce your monthly energy bills, but you can also help conserve and protect the environment.

Furthermore, with the growing average of households that produce air pollution and other harmful chemicals, the use of energy efficient appliances is indeed one of the best ways you can do to help fight climate change. It can be a simple way to save Mother Earth for the next generations to come.

in conclusion

Carbon footprint is the number of carbon compounds such as carbon dioxide emitted due to consumption of fossil fuels from your house and other businesses. These carbon compounds can lead to trapping the sun’s heat from the Earth’s atmosphere that is one of the primary causes of climate change.

However, you can help reduce your carbon footprint and other greenhouse gases by using energy-efficient appliances since they have lower emissions of harmful gases into the environment. Using these appliances is one of the best ways to help reduce them that can help decrease the effect of climate change to all living things.

Moreover, air pollution, carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gases are harmful to the environment, for human health and to other living things as well. That’s why according to research, reducing carbon footprint and other greenhouse gases can help prevent premature deaths by the year 2100.

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