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Cooking Up Kitchen Energy Savings

5 easy ways to lower your kitchen energy usage and keep the family fed.

1. Keep range-top reflectors clean.

Keep your range's cooktop burners clean. They'll reflect the heat better and require less energy for cooking.

2. Turn off electric burners several minutes before the allotted cooking time.

You can save energy by turning off electric burners several minutes before the allotted cooking time is up. The burners will stay hot long enough to finish the job without using any more electricity.

3. When you have a choice of using the range top or the oven, choose the range.

When you have a choice as to whether to cook with the range top or the oven, choose the range.

If you do use the oven, open it sparingly; each time you open it, heat escapes and the oven will use even more energy to maintain the temperature.

4. Use a pressure cooker and the microwave whenever possible.

When you can, use a pressure cooker or your microwave. Both save energy over using your cook top.

5. When boiling water, keep a lid on the pot.

Water boils faster when you use a top to hold in the heat. So keep a lid on it.

For more tips on running an energy-efficient home, visit the Energy Efficient Home.

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About the Author

Tara Aronson is a native Californian. Having grown up in San Diego, she studied journalism and Spanish to pursue a career in newspaper writing. Tara, whose three children - Chris, Lyndsay, and Payne - are the light of her life, now lives and writes in Los Angeles. She also regularly appears on television news programs throughout the U.S.