Kitchen

Refrigerator/freezer

• Location is important. Don't place either your refrigerator or your freezer in direct sunlight or near any source of warm air such as the range, dishwasher or heating ducts.
• What's inside counts, too. Refrigerators work more efficiently when food is arranged to allow air to circulate. Freezers, however, work more efficiently when they're packed full.
• Check interior temperatures with an accurate thermometer. Keep a refrigerator between 36 and 38 degrees F; a freezer, between 0 and 5 degrees F.
• Avoid opening refrigerator and freezer doors too frequently. Plan ahead so you can take out everything you need at one time.
• Cleaning is important. Every three months clean the condenser, coils, fins and evaporator pan. Refer to your owner's manual for other cleaning maintenance.
• If you have a power saver switch, turn it on during humid weather to prevent moisture buildup. Turn the switch off when humidity is lower.
• If you must manually defrost your refrigerator, don't let more than 1/4-inch of ice build up. Efficiency drops as ice builds up.
• Make sure door gaskets are tight. Replace worn, dirty, cracked or poor-fitting gaskets to prevent air leaks and maintain top efficiency.

• When baking, don't peek. Up to 25% of an oven's heat can be lost every time the door is opened.
• When using the range top, don't waste heat. Use flat-bottomed pots and pans and match each to the size of the surface unit. Cover pots and pans with lids to retain heat and reduce cooking time.
• Self-cleaning ovens use less energy when baking or roasting because they're better insulated. To save money, use the self-cleaning feature right after cooking, while the oven is still hot.
• When boiling or steaming foods, use less water than the recipe calls for and use covered cookware to speed up the process.
• Consider other cooking options. You may be able to save energy by using a slow cooker, electric fry pan or microwave instead.
• Try to use all the space in your oven. Extra dishes cooked at the same temperature can be frozen for future meals.

• Microwaves cook foods faster and at lower wattage, so they often use less energy than conventional ranges and ovens.

• Whenever possible, run full loads in your dishwasher (unless it has a "light wash" setting). You'll save electricity and use less hot water.
• Don't pre-rinse dishes before loading them in the dishwasher. Scrape off food and empty liquids. If you must rinse, use cold water.
• Make sure the water temperature for your dishwasher is set at 140 degrees F.
• A clean filter screen helps maintain efficiency. Regularly check the condition of the filter screen. Clean or replace it when necessary.

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