ENERGY USE

Energy efficient tips when renovating your kitchen.

If you’re planning on redesigning or renovating your kitchen, it may be wise to consider how to make it energy efficient. An energy-efficient kitchen will help lower your household energy bills as well as your carbon footprint.

Be inspired by our guide to make your kitchen remodel cost-effective and energy efficient.

Choose energy-efficient appliances.

About 30% more efficient than regular gas or electric cooktops, induction cooktops heat up twice as fast. Induction cooktops use electromagnetic technology, which creates heat directly and only in the pan. By installing an induction cooktop in your kitchen, you will lower the amount of energy you use when preparing food.

When planning your kitchen’s lighting, consider LEDs. Compared to classic bulbs, LEDs use 75% less energy than halogen bulbs, even when emitting the same level of light. Halogen lighting wastes 90% of its energy emitting heat, compared to LEDs, which only use 5%.

LED lighting is versatile and is effective when used as spotlighting underneath or above kitchen cabinets. In addition, consider installing dimmer switches to help adjust the lighting levels and avoid over-lighting.

Consider colour scheme and sustainable materials.

In terms of your new kitchen colour scheme, lighter, paler colours will maximise the available light. If you only have smaller windows, light colours will brighten the space, helping natural light to bounce around. Skylights are also an option that can flood your kitchen with plenty of natural light.

Make your new kitchen super sustainable by picking sustainable materials or recycling any elements from your old kitchen. For example, bamboo, recycled glass, or composite materials are ideal for countertops, while high thermal mass like tile, concrete or stone are good for flooring materials. Also, consider repurposing old countertops as work surfaces.

Don’t forget about ventilation and cook smart.

Proper ventilation is essential for removing cooking fumes, moisture and other excess heat from your kitchen. For maximum energy efficiency, install a range hood with variable speed settings and a timer to help reduce energy usage. Then, you’ll have a safe and healthy cooking and living environment in your kitchen.

Simple tricks like cooking with pan lids on will reduce moisture evaporation and help cook your food faster while saving energy in the process. Always match the pot size to the hob to prevent energy wastage. Inside the oven, glass or ceramic dishes retain heat better than metal cookware.

Summary

• Install an induction cooktop in your kitchen to lower the energy you use when preparing food.

• Instal LED lighting for spotlighting above kitchen cupboards and consider dimmer switches to help adjust the lighting levels and avoid over-lighting.

• Use lighter, paler colours to maximise available natural light.

• Install energy-efficient ventilation to remove excess fumes, heat, and moisture.

• Use sustainable or repurposed materials in your new kitchen.

• Consider cooking with pan lids on and using glass or ceramic dishes inside the oven rather than metal.

ActewAGL's energy saving tips are designed to help you take control of your energy use, while reducing your bills and environmental impact. Save with great value energy plans backed by our sustainability promise, supported by 100% local, award-winning service.

For more information about how you can transition to an energy-efficient home visit the SolarHub & ActewAGL Smart Energy Hub today.

Sources

https://www.energy.gov.au/households/lighting

Disclaimer: These Energy Savings tips and articles are for information purposes only. Please ensure you are aware of any safety precautions before operating appliances or products.