Save energy on everything but the
kitchen sink

Your kitchen is the real heart of the home, a hive of activity. And when you stop to think about all the kitchen appliances you use on an ordinary day; the dishwasher, fridge, freezer, cooker, kettle, toaster, microwave, washing machine, it seems like a good place to start if you want to save energy.

Appliances like your fridge need to be switched on all the time, so they use a lot of energy. But there are ways you can make them run more efficiently:

• Set the temperature between 3oC and 5oC.
• Dust off the condenser coils on the back – according to Green Consumer Guide, energy consumption can rise by 30% when dust gathers there.
• Use a fridge saver plug to cut power to the fridge’s motor when it’s not needed - according to Doctor Energy this will save you 20% of your fridge’s running costs.
• Fridges are graded A to G according to their energy efficiency, so if you’re buying a new one, choose an A grade.

Your dishwasher is another appliance you probably couldn’t do with out. Don’t worry, we’re not suggesting you go back to washing up by hand. As long as you use your dishwasher carefully it can be just as energy efficient and eco-friendly.

• Make sure the dishwasher is full before you turn it on.
• Scrape and rinse first (in cold water) to cut out the pre-wash cycle.
• Use phosphate-free and chlorine-free tablets and rinse aid.

And when you’ve finished dusting the fridge and scraping the plates, make sure you have sufficient home insurance cover for all your kitchen gadgets. You can read about Privilege home insurance online.