Kitchen

Courtesy of energystar.gov

From appliances and lighting to home sealing, there are several areas to improve the energy efficiency of your kitchen and save on energy bills.

Light Fixture
Install ENERGY STAR qualified light fixtures or replace standard light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) that have earned the ENERGY STAR.

Kitchen fixtures are some of the most used light fixtures in a home. ENERGY STAR qualified lighting fixtures are available in popular styles that may be just right for your kitchen, such as cabinet-mounted, ceiling-mounted, and recessed can models. ENERGY STAR qualified lighting provides bright, warm light while using 75% less energy, generating 70% less heat and lasting up to 10 times longer than standard lighting.

Light Switch
Remember to always turn off your lights when leaving a room.

Floor Vents/Radiators
Make sure all air registers or floor vents are clear of furniture so that the air can circulate freely. If your home has radiators, place heat-resistant reflectors between radiators and walls. In the winter, this will help heat the room instead of the wall.

Range Hood
Install an ENERGY STAR qualified kitchen range hood to help control moisture and remove odors from cooking.

ENERGY STAR qualified ventilation fans are much quieter than standard models. Models that include lighting use 65 percent less energy on average than standard models, saving $120 in electricity costs over the life of the fan. Qualified models can be found at many home improvement stores or from your HVAC or electrical contractor.

Window Sealing
During the winter months, replace your screens with storm windows to provide an extra barrier to the cold outside air. Caulk and weather-strip around windows and door frames that leak air. If replacing windows, choose ENERGY STAR qualified models designed for your area, and save $20-$95 per year in energy costs. With proper installation to ensure all gaps are sealed around them, ENERGY STAR qualified windows can help improve your comfort, cut drafts, and reduce fading of interior furnishings.

Home Sealing
Going beyond your windows and sealing your home's entire envelope is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce your energy bill and improve your comfort. Home sealing reduces uncomfortable drafts and helps avoid moisture problems through sealing holes, cracks, and gaps in the home. Done right, home sealing could save you up to 10% on your home energy bill. You can seal your home yourself with help from our Guide to Home Sealing (2MB), or hire a contractor for professional services.

Learn how to fix problems with moisture on windows in your home.

Cordless Phones
Look for ENERGY STAR qualified cordless phones that feature switch-mode power supplies and 'smart' chargers for added energy savings.

Dishwasher
Save water by scraping dishes instead of rinsing them before loading in the dishwasher. Run your dishwasher with a full load and use the air-dry option if available.

Rinsing dirty dishes before loading your dishwasher uses a lot of water and energy. Most dishwashers today can thoroughly clean dishes that have had food scraped, rather than rinsed, off - the wash cycle and detergent take care of the rest. To make the most efficient use of your dishwasher's energy and water consumption, run the dishwasher only when enough dirty dishes have accumulated for a full load.

Replacing an old dishwasher? Appliances account for as much as 20 percent of your energy bill. Newer, more energy-efficient models save energy and water. If replacing your dishwasher, consider an ENERGY STAR model, which can save over $25 a year in energy costs.

Refrigerator
Look for the ENERGY STAR when purchasing a new refrigerator. Be sure to recycle your old refrigerator. Think twice before you put the old refrigerator in the garage or other room of your home.

If your current refrigerator was made before 1993, it uses twice as much energy as a new ENERGY STAR qualified model. Many homes have older refrigerators in their garage or basement for overflow storage. These units can cost $90 or more per year to operate. Replacing an older model with a new ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator can save $45-$65 per year.

Find out how much your old refrigerator is costing you.

Range/Stove
Use the right sized pot on stove burners. A 6" pot on an 8" burner wastes over 40 percent of the burner's heat. Also, cover pots and pans to keep heat in.

Using the right sized pot on stove burners can save about $36 annually for an electric range, or $18 for gas. Covering pots and pans also helps you cook more efficiently and keeps your kitchen cooler.

Have a gas range? Keep the burners clean to ensure maximum efficiency. Blue flames mean good combustion; yellow flames mean service may be needed to ensure the gas is burning efficiently.

Microwave
Use your microwave or toaster oven to reheat or cook small portions.

You can reduce cooking energy by as much as 80 percent when using your microwave for small portions. This also helps save on a/c costs in summer, since less heat is generated compared to using your stove or oven.

Kitchen Sink
Repair any faucet leaks. A leaky faucet can waste gallons of water.

Hot water leaking at a rate of one drip per second can waste up to 1,661 gallons of water over the course of a year, and waste up to $35 in electricity or natural gas. Fixing drips is a cost effective and easy way to save energy.