During the hot summer months, reducing heat generation inside your home is crucial for maintaining comfort and minimizing energy usage. Here are some tips to help you and your kitchen stay cool as you prepare energy-saving meals throughout the summer.
Avoid using your oven and stove whenever possible
Ovens and stovetops are among the biggest energy users in your kitchen, and they also generate a lot of heat, which can strain your air conditioning unit or HVAC system. In the summer, consider these cooking appliance alternatives:
- Alternative cooking devices. Use small cooking appliances, including your microwave, toaster or convection oven, air fryer, pressure cooker, multicooker, portable grilling appliance, or slow cooker. These use less energy than conventional ovens and stovetops and won’t generate as much heat.
- Outdoor grilling and barbecuing. Take advantage of the warm weather and cook outside whenever possible to keep the indoor temperature down.
- Raw and cold foods. Summer is an excellent time to lean into no-cook meals like vegetable, pasta, potato, and fruit salads, as well as options like charcuterie boards, hummus plates, and crudité platters.
Optimize your oven use
If you must use your oven, you can conserve energy by doing the following:
- Limit preheating. Preheat your oven only if necessary and for the shortest possible time. Many dishes don’t require a fully preheated oven, and cutting down on preheating can save energy.
- Keep the door closed. Avoid opening the oven door frequently. Instead, use the oven light to check on your cooking. This helps maintain the oven’s temperature and reduces energy loss.
Use smart kitchen practices
Show your fridge and air conditioning system a little love by:
- Using your refrigerator efficiently. Keep your refrigerator coils clean and cover your food. A clean coil improves efficiency, while covered food reduces the time the fridge compressor needs to run, which saves energy.
- Using fans. Use kitchen fans to remove hot air and steam after cooking, which helps cool the space faster and reduces the load on your air conditioning.
Enjoy a greener summer with Michigan Saves
Michigan Saves can help keep your energy bills down in the summer and all year long. Our home and business financing help you quickly turn your home or business into a comfortable and efficient space by paying for energy upgrades such as energy efficient windows, air sealing, and HVAC systems.
If saving money and energy is your goal, you’re in good hands. Get professional help from one of our authorized Michigan Saves contractors in your area. Start saving with us today!
