The kitchen is an area of your home that consumes the highest amount of energy. Between all of the cooking, washing, cleaning, and storing fo food, home energy costs are on the rise each year due to kitchen use. Discover some for the best ways to help reduce your energy bill in the new year with these kitchen energy-saving tips!

When you’re cooking:

• Cover your pots and pans. Placing a lid over pots and pans helps to trap heat and can reduce energy consumption by 3%.
• Choose the right sized pans. You do not need a tall saucepan to get a single egg boiled. While cooking food items like pasta or potatoes, boil the water separately in a kettle and then pour this water into the pan. This uses less energy, as the water will boil more quickly trapped inside the kettle than it will spread out in a pot.
• Use the right amount of water. To bring water to a boil quickly and efficiently, use the right amount. Adding too much water can cause higher consumption of energy and ultimately takes a longer time to boil.
• Multitask! Multitasking when you’re cooking is one of the best ways to save energy. If you’re boiling water, place a colander with a lid over it to convert it into a steamer. You can steam vegetables while you’re cooking potatoes or pasta.

To make your refrigerator more energy efficient:

• Avoid pushing your fridge right against the wall. Instead, make sure you leave space between the wall and the fridge to allow efficient heat flow.
• Clean your condenser coil. A condenser coil covered with dust, animal hair and other dirt particles can prevent airflow, causing your refrigeration system to work harder. Vacuuming your condenser coils twice a year can save up to 15% in energy costs.
• Keep the fridge door closed. Frequent opening of the doors lets the cool air escape and warm air to enter, which causes the unit to work harder to re-cool the warm air. Avoid excessively opening your refrigerator. Make a habit of checking the gaskets on your fridge and freezer doors t0 ensure the seal is air-tight when closed.
• Defrost regularly. Do not let the frost build up to more than 1/4 inch in your freezer. This has an insulating effect and can cause the motor to consume more energy to work, boosting your energy costs.
• Never place hot food directly into the fridge. It requires more energy to cool. Instead, wait for the food to cool down to room temperature, then place it in the fridge. Always cover food before placing it in your fridge to prevent the escape of moisture, which can cause the compressor to work harder.

When you’re washing dishes:

• Wait till you have a full load before using the dishwasher. Most of the dishwashers use the same amount of water no matter whether it is fully loaded or not. Get more bang for your buck by loading your dishwasher fully before turning it on.
• Opt for the no-heat air-dry option if your dishwasher has one. You can also open the door after the washing cycle to air dry the dishes and use less energy.

Following these simple energy steps will help lower your energy bills remarkably. Check the Home Improvement Help Resource regularly for more energy saving tips!