Kitchen

Fridges and freezers

• Fridges account for a large portion of household energy use because they run 24 hrs/day, seven days a week. Ensuring your fridge is running efficiently can make a big difference on your bills.
• Choose an efficient refrigerator with a top star rating energy label. A top star rated fridge can save up to 4.5 tonnes of greenhouse gas and $450 over its lifetime.
• An old inefficient fridge can use three times the energy of new one.
• Do you really need that second fridge? A rarely used second fridge, or 'beer fridge,' can cost more than $200 a year in energy bills.
• Avoid opening the refrigerator door unnecessarily. By removing or replacing several items at a time you can protect the cold air inside the fridge and save energy.
• Choose a refrigerator that's right for your household. Refrigerators operate at peak efficiency when full.
• Locate your refrigerator in a cool spot – out of the sun and away from ovens.
• Make sure there's sufficient space around the fridge for ventillation of the coils at the back (>80 mm gap)
• Defrost chest type freezers at least once or twice a year and upright models twice or three times a year.

• Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door over a piece of paper so it is half in and half out of the refrigerator. If you can pull the paper out easily, the hinge may need adjustment or the seal may need replacing.

• Choose an efficient dishwasher with a top star rating energy label.
• A half-filled dishwasher uses the same amount of energy as a full load, so fill it to capacity before each wash cycle.
• Finish your dishwasher cycle before the drying cycle and leave the door open to dry dishes naturally.
• High efficiency is only obtained when items are placed in the dishwasher according to manufacturer instructions. Pack correctly and be sure there are no large items preventing the wash arms from rotating.
• Where they are available, use small load or half load options, short wash cycles or rinse-only cycles for maximum energy efficiency.

• Microwaves, electric frypans or pressure cookers are much more energy efficient than using the oven.
• Thaw frozen foods fully before cooking to save time and energy.
• Keep the oven door completely closed until the food is cooked. Resist the urge to open the oven door while baking. A fan forced oven uses less energy than a conventional oven and baking time is substantially reduced.
• When cooking vegetables use only enough water to create steam.
• Using a pressure cooker will save approximately 25% of energy of a standard convection oven.
• Select the correct pan or pot size for your hotplates and cook with the lid on.
• Use the minimum amount of water in pots and bring liquid to boil quickly on a high setting before turning the heat down so food simmers while cooking.
• Use your jug or kettle to boil water, rather than the stove.

• Consider replacing old expensive-to-run appliances and look for new appliances with high energy star ratings. Energy efficient whitegoods can save up to $1,400 and prevent up to 14 tonnes of greenhouse gas from being emitted into the environment over a ten-year product life span. The more star ratings, the more energy efficient the appliance and the lower the running costs and greenhouse gas emissions.