Saving Electricity at Home

The Kitchen

The geyser, stove, refrigerator and microwave oven consume more electricity in the kitchen than other appliances. Any conservation efforts should target these appliances. Some tips on the use of the stove and refrigerator are highlighted.

The electric stove

• Use cooking utensils with flat bottoms and tight fitting covers. Be sure that pots and pans completely cover the stove plates.
• Take advantage of the heat sensing control for stove plates. It allows the stove plate to cut off the electricity supply occasionally while still cooking. It does not affect the food, only your electricity bill.  
• Use a pressure cooker to conserve energy when cooking food that takes a long time to cook, such as pot roasts, stews and steamed puddings.
• Don’t overcook foods, especially vegetables. Over cooking increases your electricity bill and destroys essential nutrients.
• For full efficiency from radiant stove plates, the stove plate reflectors (underneath the stove plates) should always be kept clean.
• Bring foods to boil quickly on ‘high’ setting, and then turn the heat down to simmer and finish cooking.
• Do not use the grill to make toast, it is very expensive.
• Do not use the stove for space heating; it is very expensive and far less efficient than a heater.
• Keep oven doors completely closed until the food is cooked. Every time the door is open, the oven temperature drops, and this heat must be replaced.
• Use the oven to prepare the entire meal main course, vegetables and desert at the same time. Remember to plan meals that cook in the oven at the same temperature.
• Allow free circulation of heat within the oven.
• Place pans and containers so that they do not touch each other, or the sides of the oven.
• To keep food warm, place in a 66°C (150°F) or 82°C (180°F) oven. Do not leave it too long or your meal will be dry.

Refrigerator

• Choose a refrigerator of a size based on the needs of your family; refrigerators operate at peak efficiency when filled; however it should not be over filled.
• Thick frost on chilling panels reduces cooling ability. If you do not have a frost-free model, defrost your refrigerator when frost’s thickness approaches 0.6cm.
• Don’t open your refrigerator door needlessly. By getting into the habit of removing and replacing several articles at once, you’ll reduce loss of cold air.
• Let hot foods cool down before placing them into the refrigerator. (To a void bacterial growth allow at least 20 minutes standing time).
• Be sure that the seal around your refrigerator door is intact. (Close the door on a piece of paper: If you can pull the paper out easily, the seal needs to be replaced).
• Remove all wrappings from food before storing it in the fridge.
• Foods should be placed slightly apart on refrigerator shelves, to allow the cooling air to circulate.
• Exposed condenser coils/panels (usually at the back of the unit) must be kept clean and dust free. When cleaning you must be careful not to damage the panels.
• Don’t place the refrigerator near the stove or against an un-insulated wall that faces the sun.
• Allow adequate space around the refrigerator for free air circulation.
• Turn on the energy saving switch if one is fitted to the refrigerator.
• Turn off, empty, clean and leave refrigerator door open when taking an extended holiday.
• Cover all liquids stored in the frost-free refrigerator models

Lighting

The wattage of a bulb is not a measure of the amount of light it gives, but rather the energy it uses. For instance, a 100 watt bulb gives 50% more light than four 25 watt bulbs. Fluorescent lighting is more economical than incandescent bulbs. Fluorescent lamps give five times the light and last up to 10 times as long as ordinary bulbs. Try not to install multiple lights (lamps or lighting fixtures) on a single switch. Turn lights off whenever possible to save electricity. Dimming switches allow you to regulate the light level and reduce electricity consumption to some extent.