Appliances account for about 20% of your household’s energy consumption, with refrigerators, clothes washers, and clothes dryers at the top of the consumption list. The American Council for an Energy- Efficient Economy lists the energy performance of top-rated energy saving appliances on its website at http://www.aceee.org.

The following are the common appliances in your house which you can apply simple steps to save energy and money:

• Dishwasher

• Refrigerator

• Laundry

Here are Energy-Saving Tips while in the Kitchen:

• Be sure to place the faucet lever on the kitchen sink in the cold position when using small amounts of water; placing the lever in the hot position uses energy to heat the water even though it may never reach the faucet.
• If you need to purchase a natural gas oven or range, look for one with an automatic, electric ignition system. An electric ignition saves natural gas because a pilot light is not burning continuously.
• In natural gas appliances, look for blue flames; yellow flames indicate the gas is burning inefficiently and an adjustment may be needed. Consult the manufacturer or your local utility.
• Keep range-top burners and reflectors clean; they will reflect the heat better, and you will save energy.
• Use a covered kettle or pan to boil water; it’s faster and it uses less energy.
• Match the size of the pan to the heating element.
• Use small electric pans or toaster ovens for small meals rather than your large stove or oven. A toaster oven uses a third to half as much energy as a full sized oven.
• Use pressure cookers and microwave ovens whenever it is convenient to do so. They will save energy by significantly reducing cooking time.