Kitchen Energy Facts
Kitchen Lighting: An average household dedicates 10% of its energy budget to lighting. New lighting technologies can reduce lighting energy use by 50% to 75%. Advanced lighting controls can offer further energy savings by automatically shutting off lights in unoccupied rooms.
Kitchen Windows and Doors: Air leaks decrease a home's energy efficiency and cause uncomfortable drafts. Most such problems can be easily remedied with weather-stripping and/or caulk from the local hardware store.
Water Efficiency: Water heating accounts for 14% to 25% of a home's energy consumption. It is the second-largest energy expense in U.S. households behind space heating and cooling.
Dishwasher: Most of the energy used by a dishwasher is for water heating. The yellow EnergyGuide label estimates how much power is needed each year to run the appliance and to heat the water based on the annual cost of natural gas and electric water heating.
Refrigerator: Refrigerators built before 1993 are energy hogs, and even some newer models may be worth replacing. A new ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator uses at least 20% less energy than standard models and 40% less energy than standard models sold in 2001.
Combustion Appliances: Combustion appliances (gas stoves and ovens, fuel-burning furnaces, fireplaces) that don't get enough oxygen will operate inefficiently. This can lead to smoke and even carbon monoxide in the home.
