The kitchen is the busiest room in the house. It’s often the social hub of a home and it’s the room most likely to be remodeled, repeatedly, over the life of a house. The kitchen also holds the largest concentration of energy use, averaging 20 to 40 percent of a home’s consumption. When upgrading a kitchen consider introducing energy saving features to the design to help save you money in the long run. Here are a few kitchen upgrades and areas we at Kitchens by Good Guys suggest looking into to cut costs in your new kitchen.
Appliances
New appliances are the most popular items when it comes to upgrading a kitchen. Appliances are an easy way to install energy saving elements into the design. Most modern appliances are energy star rated meaning they use less electricity than their predecessors helping you lower the cost of your electric bill over time.
Refrigerators
When deciding on a new refrigerator it is important to understand what size your need for your home. For example, if there is just a husband and wife in the home then they will not need a large 4-foot-wide refrigerator. They will be fine with a 36-inch or even a 30-inch refrigerator depending on how they buy their groceries. It costs a lot more to keep a large built-in 4-foot refrigerator running if you aren’t even filling half of it. Make sure the size of the refrigerator you choose fits the needs of your family.
Cooking Appliances
The best way to save energy with your oven and stove top is by installing gas or propane. Installing gas hookups can be expensive but over time you will save money on your electric bill. If you don’t have gas hookups in your home and don’t want to spend the extra money installing them an easier cost-effective solution is propane. You can use propane by storing propane bottles or propane barrels on your property and connect your cook top to them. Overall, gas and propane provide better energy saving solutions than an electric oven.
Small Appliances
Small kitchen appliances are the most deceptive energy drainers in any kitchen. Toasters, air fryers and coffee pots drain much more energy than you may think by being plugged in when not in use because they are still pulling energy from the electrical socket. The best thing to do is unplug these devices when you are not using them.
Another way to save money on your energy costs is installing appliances you are actually going to use. We often have people who want an ice maker, a beverage refrigerator, a wine refrigerator or water cooler installed and then not use them. If you have a wine refrigerator because you want to start collecting wine and end up not using it then you are just wasting money. Another example is having a water cooler that is plugged in all day. It is constantly regulating the temperature of the water and pulling electricity. If you have small appliances like these plugged in all day, they are consistently using electricity raising your bill.
Dishwashers
Heating elements in dishwashers use a lot of energy. When choosing a dishwasher for your kitchen look for dishwashers without the heating mechanism. These units help you save money on electrical costs because they do not heat up during the drying process. Instead, these dishwashers use a drip-dry concept when it comes to the drying cycle.
Lighting
Converting your incandescent light bulbs to LED bulbs can save you $1,000 over ten years. LED bulbs use at least 75 percent less energy than an incandescent bulb and they last about 25 times longer. Many decorative light fixtures, but not all, are available to work with LED bulbs. When purchasing decorative lighting fixtures for your home make sure they are capable of working with LED bulbs.
Divide task light fixtures into independently switched areas. For example, counter, island, range and sink lights need to be on separate switches. Having ample task lighting in kitchens often means general lighting may not be needed. However, if it is installed it should be on a separate switch.
Installing LED bulbs and using individual switches for your lighting fixtures will help draw less energy and save you money over time.
Windows
Adding windows captures natural light and saves energy. Many homes in Arizona were built in the 1990’s and early 2000’s when the technology for windows wasn’t really what it is now. Single pane windows from this period let in a lot of heat from the sun. Install windows that have tinting, or some form of UV protection built in.
Another route you can go when upgrading your windows are argon windows. These windows are filled with argon gas between the panes. The argon cools the light entering the home keeping your home bright but without the unnecessary heat. Installing new windows will lower your cooling costs during the heat of the summer.
Plumbing
Adjusting your water heater temperature is another easy way to lower your electricity costs. In Arizona we don’t often need our water heater set as high during the summer. We have a hard enough time getting our water cool. Lowering the temperature on your water heater during the heat of the year and raising it back up during the cooler months will lower your electric bill.
The interface for setting the temperature on a water heater will vary by type and model. For instance, newer gas and electric water heaters have a thermostat behind an insulated access panel. Adjust the temperature by first cutting the power source and opening the access panel. Using a flathead screwdriver adjust the thermostat down lowering the temperature. Replace the panel and turn the power back on. Now your water heater will not run as much cutting down on electricity.
Installing low flow faucets allows you to use less water for your basic household needs. Low flow faucets are especially beneficial if you keep your water running when doing the dishes or other household tasks. Many of these faucets can be adjusted to suit your needs if you need more water pressure for certain jobs.
Implementing these energy efficient upgrades in your kitchen will help you save money on your bills over time. As with all kitchen upgrades consider consulting a professional contractor to learn about installing new products and new design elements helping with energy efficiency.
Amber Carfield is the Design Director at Kitchens by Good Guys, a kitchen remodel company in Scottsdale, Arizona. Carfield has worked in the kitchen remodeling industry since 2000 and is an expert on all aspects of a kitchen remodel.
