Top Kitchen Appliances for Energy Efficiency

Your kitchen is responsible for a significant portion of your home’s energy consumption, mostly because of the appliances necessary to store and prepare your food. If you’re trying to find ways to save energy and reduce your electric bill, the kitchen is a good place to start. Just by upgrading your current appliances or adjusting your daily habits related to them, you could save a significant amount of energy.

These common kitchen appliances hold the greatest opportunity to reduce your energy consumption and save money on your electric bill:

1. Refrigerators. Your refrigerator is running constantly, making it one of the biggest energy consumers in your kitchen. Old model refrigerators can use more than 54 kWh per month, while newer, energy efficient refrigerators use closer to 43 kWh per month. Keep your refrigerator door closed as much as possible to keep the inside cool without expending unnecessary energy.
2. Dishwashers. Dishwashers use both water and electricity to clean your dishes, and depending on your habits, it could be consuming a significant chunk of energy. Consider washing your dishes by hand to save money on your electric bill, or upgrade your dishwasher to a newer model that features an “energy saver” cycle.
3. Ovens. Electricity is required to heat your oven and stove. When using your oven or stove, use the lowest heat setting you can to cook your food, and turn off the heat a few minutes before your food is done cooking—the appliance will retain the heat without consuming additional electricity.

Upgrade these appliances or use them carefully to avoid consuming energy unnecessarily. The more efficient your appliances are and the better your habits with them, the more you can save on your electric bill. If you’re looking for more ideas to save money on electricity, check out our ECAP program, designed to help homeowners improve their energy consumption habits.