Residential

Energy saving tips – Cooking & hot water

Cooking

• Use small appliances wherever possible.
• Don't over fill pots with water when cooking vegetables.
• Limit times oven door is opened, as this can cause up to 15% loss of hot air each time the door is opened.
• Inspect the seal around the oven. If it is damaged or perished replace it.
• Turn the oven off several minutes before you remove the food and leave the door open to allow the remaining heat to enter the room.
• Simmer food, never boil furiously.
• Save energy when cooking vegetables by using stacking steamers, thereby using only one hotplate.
• When steaming, use the minimum of water needed and keep the lid on.
• Thaw foods before cooking.
• Clean hotplate reflectors so that the heat is diverted upwards and works more efficiently.
• Use the correct size saucepan to fit the stove plate.
• Use flat bottom pots and saucepans.
• Use the correct size lids on pots and saucepans.
• Cook toast in a toaster, not under the grill.
• Don't use your stove as a room heater.
• Use an electric frypan instead of using a large oven.
• Cook two or more dishes in the oven at once.
• Have a baking day, or bake biscuits and cakes before and after using oven for a roast.
• Use microwave ovens where possible. Microwave ovens, because of their smaller wattage and faster cooking times, use up to 70% less electricity than convectional cooking methods.
• Keep your microwave clean to reduce cooking times to a minimum.
• An oven range-hood that is free of grease and baked in residue will work more efficiently.
• When preparing small meals use a toaster oven instead of using a large oven.
• Use a jug/kettle, not the stove, to boil water. Not only will it heat water quickly, it is also 50% more efficient.
• Try not to overfill your electric jug, especially if it has been designed so that it can boil one cup of water.
• Fill the kettle from the cold water tap.

Hot Water

• Set the cylinder to 60˚C, which is the minimum recommended storage temperature.
• Locate the hot water cylinder near hot water taps used the most, for example bathroom and kitchen.
• Insulate the pipes for the first couple of meters from the hot water system. You can get piping insulation from your local hardware store.
• Shower rather than bath, as a short shower will use less water.
• Wash clothes in cold water, using cold water specific laundry powders.
• Never rinse dirty dishes or utensils under the running hot water tap – always wash up by plugging the sink.
• Don't allow hot water to run down the sink as you wash or shave.
• Avoid using small amounts of hot water if cold water will do. Each time you run the hot tap a litre or more of water that was heated goes cold.
• Switch off your hot water system when on holidays or if you're going away for a week or more.
• Use flow restrictors or AAA water saving shower heads.
• If the hot water cylinder is outside, insulate it to cut down on heat loss.
• Renew seals and washers on dripping taps. A hot water tap dripping once a second for a day can waste enough hot water for an extra person.

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