The kitchen is the hub of the home. It’s a common place that families spend a lot of quality time together – cooking, talking and refueling their bodies. It’s probably no surprise then, that the kitchen is also a focal point when it comes to your household energy consumption – and energy costs. But there are three, surefire ways you can cut down those energy bills in the kitchen, and do your part for the planet while you’re at it. Let’s take a look.
Energy efficient products and practices
Appliances can zap about 25% of your household energy – and some are bigger energy drainers than others. Here are the best ways to save energy through your kitchen appliances.
Check the energy rating
Understanding energy star ratings can help cut energy costs across your entire home. The energy rating helps you choose appliances that have the same level of performance, but use less electricity. It’s a straightforward system using stars – the more stars, the more energy efficient (and the cheaper your power bill).
Australian retailers must display the energy ratings by law, so keep an eye out when you’re in the market for new kitchen appliances. If you’re just not sure which fridge or dishwasher to go for, use the energy rating calculator to compare models. You can also compare stove tops for the most energy efficient model to suit your family’s needs.
Turn it off at the wall
While it’s convenient for kitchen appliances to be ready to use at our fingertips, standby mode can actually use a lot of excess energy – and really isn’t necessary when we’re at work or asleep. So when you’re not using kitchen appliances like your microwave, kettle, or toaster, unplug them. You’ll save more on power bills throughout the year.
Invest in a smart board
To save yourself remembering to unplug your appliances, you can consider a smart power board or smart power strip. When your kitchen appliances go into standby mode, these clever boards turn the appliance off for you. You can control the smart board with a smart device manager app like Smart Life, or through Google Home, Siri,and Amazon Alexa – even when you’re out and about. Genius.
2. Get water wise
With all the cooking and cleaning that happens in a kitchen, water waste can often come along with it. Here are some easy ways to boost your kitchen’s water efficiency. Firstly, when installing your kitchen taps, go for a low-flow model. You’ll still have the high-pressure flow you're used to in traditional taps, but low flow taps mix air with your water flow, so you’ll actually be using less water.
When you’re next in the market for a dishwasher, make sure it’s a water efficient model by checking its star water rating. Just like the energy star rating, the more stars on the label, the more water efficient your machine. You can also check the Government’s water rating database to search for water efficient models.
3. Sustainable lighting for the win
A well-lit kitchen is practical for every aspect of kitchen life – from cooking, to eating and cleaning. If you’re at the stage of renovating your kitchen, consider installing large windows that offer lots of natural light – a generous lighting resource that will cost you zilch on your power bills.
Then, take a look at your indoor lighting. The average Aussie home contains 37 light bulbs, so choosing the right light bulbs for your kitchen can help you save money on electricity bills, and reduce your carbon footprint. LED light bulbs are by far the most energy efficient light bulbs on the market. LED can use up to 80% less electricity than a halogen bulb, to produce the same amount of light.