Top tips to save electricity in the kitchen

Ask Your Landlord About Solar Installation

So yes, even if you don’t own the roof you live under, you might know the person who does! 

• Talk to your landlord about solar installation — there are great landlord solar incentives that make it easier and more rewarding for property owners.
• Installing solar panels for rental properties might help lower your energy bills and possibly boost the property’s value.
• You could offer to share the feed-in tariff savings or pay a little extra rent to make it worthwhile.

• Give your fridge space to breathe
  Leaving a 5cm to 8cm gap around your fridge for air to circulate can reduce running costs by around 15%.
• Keep 20% of your fridge space free 
  Overloading your fridge uses more energy.
• Check your seals
  Place a piece of paper in the seal and close the fridge door. The paper will hold firmly if the seal is working.
• Leave leftovers to cool before putting them in the fridge
  The warmer the food, the harder your fridge must work to maintain the temperature, which will impact your energy bills.
• Avoid fridge door hangout
  Save energy by deciding what you want before opening the door.
• Going on holiday? Empty, disconnect and leave the fridge door open 
  Newer models may also have an energy-saving 'holiday' setting.
• Avoid using a spare fridge, particularly in the garage
  The garage is generally in the hottest space in the house. A spare fridge in the garage - particularly an older model - may consume a lot of electricity trying to stay cool.

Cook up a storm while you save energy with your oven and stove

Making a big impact in the kitchen shouldn’t mean bigger energy bills. Here are some ways to save energy when you’re cooking up a storm.

• Use residual heat
  Turn off the oven a few minutes before your dish is done and finish cooking for free.
• Make use of the microwave
  Microwaves tend to be more energy efficient than ovens because they’re smaller and cook food in less time.
• Multitask your oven 
  Consider using your oven to bake snacks and lunchboxes while dinner’s on.
• Keep the oven door closed and clean
  Keeping the oven door clean allows you to monitor your food without opening the door and losing heat.
• Choose your stove burner 
  Using a burner that’s too large for your pan can waste a lot of energy.
• Chop your vegetables into bite-sized chunks
  Smaller pieces cook faster and use less energy.
• Bring out the barbie
  On hot days, use an outdoor grill and cook up a storm while keeping the heat out of your home.

Clean up and reduce electricity usage with your dishwasher

Dishwashers use significantly less water than washing by hand, but there are a few ways to save extra energy when it’s your turn to do the dishes. 

• Choose the right size of dishwasher for your house 
  Too big and you’ll waste energy doing half loads. Too small and you’ll have to do multiple loads
• Use your dishwasher’s energy-saving mode
  Using the eco or energy-saving mode can save half the water (and water heating energy) used by other cycles.
• Air dry your dishes
  If your dishwasher doesn’t have a specific air-dry cycle, stop your dishwasher just before the dry cycle and open the door to let dishes dry naturally.
• Fill up before you run
  It sounds obvious but it’s important to only run your dishwasher when it’s full. However, don’t overfill – over stacking could mean dishes don’t wash properly.
• Keep your dishwasher away from your fridge
  Your fridge will have to work harder due to the heat coming off the dishwasher, which will mean more energy being used. 

Want to learn more about how you can save on your electricity bill?

Looking to take more control over your energy usage? Our free tracking tools can help you any not-so-pleasant surprises. 

MyENGIE

Monitor your energy usage and manage your account on the go with MyENGIE. Available on your computer and on your phone.

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If you have a smart meter, you can use Tracker to monitor electricity usage, set budgets and preview your bill. Learn more about smart meters

References

https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/energy-efficiency-and-reducing-emissions/save-energy-in-the-home/reduce-fridge-and-freezer-costs-at-home

https://www.yourhome.gov.au/energy/appliances