It takes a lot of energy to cook all day and host a house full of company for Christmas. So, while you’re making your grocery list this holiday season, start a list of ways you and your family can cut down on energy use.
- Lower the thermostat. If you’re cooking all day, your kitchen will get warm. Some of that heat will spread throughout the house. So, there’s no need to keep the thermostat at its usual setting.
- Don’t turn on your oven until it’s full. Cook several dishes at once. If their recommended cooking temps are within 25 degrees of each other in either direction, everything will cook as it should.
- Identify dishes that you can cook in the microwave, which heats food faster than the oven and uses about 1/3 the electricity.
- Run your dishwasher only when it’s full. Using the dishwasher saves more energy and water than handwashing.
- Cool leftovers on the counter before putting them into the refrigerator. That will keep the fridge from having to work so hard to cool off hot food.