The holiday season is here, which means it's time for gatherings with friends and family. Of course, that means it's also time for food. If you're like most people, you have several parties and family dinners throughout the holidays, and you'll be spending a lot of your time in the kitchen.While this a wonderful season for reuniting with loved ones, the additional cooking can take a toll on your energy bill - unless you follow these energy saving tips.
Don't Open the Oven Door While Cooking
It's tempting to check on cakes and casseroles to make sure they're cooking evenly, but avoid the temptation. This habit isn't good for your cooking, and it's even worse for your energy bill. Instead, use your oven window to take a peek, or simply set a timer to remind yourself that dinner is ready.
Match the Size of Your Pots to Your Stove's Burners
The burners on your stove are different sizes due to the variety of sizes in which pots and pans come in. If you use a large burner for a small pot, you're simply wasting energy. It's best to match the pot or pan precisely to the size of the burner. If the pan is just a little too large, it will still cook evenly without wasting gas or electricity.
Keep Your Oven Clean
A clean oven is ideal because it allows heat to transfer more evenly, which saves energy. If you regularly clean your oven, you'll also save your own physical energy, since it's much easier to clean a slightly dirty oven than a filthy one.
Use Your Grill
If you have a grill and temperatures are above freezing, you might consider cooking your holiday meal outdoors. It's nice to get out of the stuffy kitchen on a pretty day, and your energy bill will thank you for it.
Keep Your Refrigerator Full
When it comes to saving energy, a full refrigerator is better than an empty one. That shouldn't be too hard to accomplish around the holidays, but if find you still have empty space, you can fill it with bottles of water.
Only Store Room Temperature Food in the Fridge
Before you put away holiday leftovers, let the food come down to room temperature. Refrigerators consume more energy when cooling food that's still hot, so it's best to let it sit for a while first. Once the food is stored safely, you can take some time to reflect on all the money you saved by staying energy-conscious this holiday season.
Insulate Your Home
Insulating your home is an easy way to prevent heating costs from eating into your holiday cooking budget. By ensuring that your home is insulated with Radiant Barrier you will be able to comfortably enjoy your events without concern of high energy bills.Take control of your holiday spending and keep your home's temperature in check with help from Green Energy of SA. Insulate your home today and get ready to save!
