Cooking Appliance Energy Efficiency

Cooktops, ranges, and wall ovens typically get plenty of use in a home, so make sure your choice is energy and cost-efficient.

Most cooking appliances do not come with an Energy Star rating, but you can look for features that help conserve energy and consider these tips:

• Radiant elements under glass take longer to heat up and use more electricity.
• Dual-element burners have a smaller, inner ring for small pans, and a larger, outer ring for larger pans, so you use only as much heat as you need.
• Variable power settings allow you to cook at the appropriate temperature and reduce cooking time.
• Electric units are more energy efficient than gas because the electric elements are in direct contact with your cookware - 65% to 85% of the energy is used to heat.
• Gas is actually the least efficient fuel type - heat escapes into the air while you're heating your cookware, so about 40% of the energy output is used to heat.
• Induction cooktops transfer magnetic fields (no fuel involved) from the cooktop to your magnetic cookware more efficiently than any other cooktop technology.
• Self-cleaning ovens use use less energy for normal cooking because of higher insulation levels; you'll save more energy if you clean the oven immediately after cooking to take advantage of residual heat.
• Sensors, digital timers and preset programming help you better manage the timing of your oven cooking so you don't have to check baking progress opening the oven door during cooking and wasting heat energy (each time you open the door, the oven temperature drops by 25 degrees). Windows with or without a mesh offer a clearer view than windows with a white screen or decorative grid (which reduce visibility).
• Automatic shut-off is not only a safety feature but an energy saver as well.
• Utilize your microwave more than your oven; microwaves not only cook faster, they use less energy.

For more on energy efficiency and your cooking appliances:

• American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
• Flex Your Power
• California Energy Commission
• Maryland Energy Administration
• Green-Energy-Efficient-Homes.com
• Western Australia Office of Energy