In many homes, the most used room is the kitchen. It is where you entertain guests, prepare family dinners, and it is where you go for your midnight snack. If this sounds like your home, there are many ways you can make your kitchen more energy efficient.
Handling the Heat
Unfortunately for your heating and air conditioning bill, most things that happen in the kitchen work against your home temperature. Cooking gives off a lot of heat, which can be helpful during cold months, but you’ll need to find ways to dissipate it during warm months to avoid having to crank up the AC. There are a couple of options you have to still enjoy your kitchen during the summer. The best option is to avoid using the oven, especially in the middle of the day when it is warmest out. Instead, you can use slow cookers, cook meals on the grill, or cook early in the day and warm the food up later.
Changing Your Energy Source
Kitchens have a lot of appliances and pull a lot of energy. Sourcing it from renewable sources can make your kitchen more energy efficient. Renewable energy also allows you to use the kitchen in the same way you are used to and benefit the environment and your wallet simultaneously. Harnessing the sun to generate power that you can use without increasing your energy costs is one of the benefits of installing a solar panel system. This is a long-term investment that will help cover the energy costs of your oven, fridge, and dishwasher, along with the rest of your home.
Update Your Appliances
When you are looking for a new fridge or slow cooker, consider selecting one that is marked as energy efficient. Energy-efficient appliances use less power, but that does not mean that they do not work as well as standard appliances. They often work the same or better, while cutting costs and benefiting the environment. For example, energy-efficient dishwashers will help your energy and water bills. Appliances that have been approved for energy efficiency also last longer than their counterparts, meaning that they will be a staple in your home for a long time.
As you update your kitchen to be energy efficient, it will continue to be your favorite part of your home. This is a change you can make without cutting corners or settling for something outdated. Once complete, you will be begging to host the next family dinner to show off your new kitchen.
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