Now that the election is over, it’s time to move on to other things. My own personal obsession is the environment and conserving energy and water, reducing our carbon footprint and so on.
The importance of doing this can’t be emphasized enough. The planet is really in peril. If that doesn’t move you, perhaps you’ll care that energy relates to our national security (or your national security if you’re in a different country – this problem is global, not just American). Or perhaps you simply want to lower your expenses, an understandable goal in these tough economic times.
There are many lists and tips about what you can do. Here are a few things to remind you, starting in the kitchen.
For every day:
Turn off and unplug. Some things may be sucking energy even when they’re turned off. In the kitchen, I unplug the coffeemaker and the TV when they’re not in use.
Cook efficiently. Electric kettles are pretty good for heating water, like when you’re making tea. Even if you’re making soup, it can be more energy efficient to heat the water in an electric-water heater before pouring it into the pot. Use your microwave, especially for foods like baked potatoes. Choose to use the burner that matches the pan. Smaller things (diced) cook faster. Use lids – they will save time as well as energy. As your stove may take time to cool off, you can often turn down or turn off the burner before you’ve finished cooking.
Washing dishes. Making and keeping water hot uses a lot of energy. Using the dishwasher is generally better than washing by hand. Make sure you fill the dishwasher before turning it on – it will use the same amount of energy to clean a spoon as a full load. Don’t pay to have your dishwasher dry the dishes, though. Skip that cycle.
If your tap water tastes yucky without being filtered, then find a way to
filter it, either by installing a filter in the faucet or by getting a Brita filter jug or something similar. Bottled water may be convenient occasionally, but not for every drop you drink. And there’s no reason you can’t refill a bottle with filtered water and drink from it again.
Instead of throwing away coffee grounds, etc., or sending them through the garbage disposal, start a compost heap.
Occasionally:
Clean your refrigerator coils. Use a broom or a vacuum cleaner. I’ve seen that this should be done every 3 months or every 6 months.
Long term:
ENERGY STAR appliances are supposed to be much better.
If you can, you should organize your kitchen so that the fridge is not next to the oven or the dishwasher.
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Do you have other tips for the kitchen to share? Post them below!