| Ways to save energy in your kitchen go a long way | | | | and heat out of your home in the summer. |
| to making your lifestyle and your home eco-friendly. | | | | - Use cooking lids that fit. Cooking food in an open pot |
| Many of us are concerned about our furnace and air | | | | or pan is wasteful because so much of the heat is |
| conditioner but there are dozens of smaller things you | | | | lost. |
| can pay attention to in your kitchen to live as green as | | | | - Save leftovers in glass containers rather than in |
| you can. We want to reduce our carbon footprint and | | | | plastic containers or bags. |
| our ecological footprint. | | | | - Consider purchasing a convection oven if you do not |
| To start reducing that footprint in your kitchen, think | | | | have one. Convection ovens cook 25 to 30 percent |
| how you cook your food, the type of energy you use | | | | faster which means your meal is ready using less |
| for your range, dishwasher and frig and for your oven. | | | | energy than a traditional oven. |
| Here are some ways you can reduce your cook print | | | | - Try cooking with a slow cooker when possible. Sow |
| each time you prepare a meal. | | | | cookers also use less energy than a traditional oven or |
| - Shop locally. Look for locally grown produce at | | | | a large burner on your stove. |
| farmers markets, farm stands and food coops. You | | | | - Run your dishwasher at midnight instead of during |
| get fresher food, support your community and help | | | | peak hours. |
| reduce fuel waste and emissions from long-distance | | | | - Skip the garbage disposal and try composting |
| shipping. | | | | instead. |
| - Microwave water for tea or use a hot water pot | | | | Environmentalists are urging people to try to reduce |
| instead of turning on the stove. | | | | the strain they put on the planet each time they |
| - Use passive boiling whenever possible. This means | | | | prepare a meal. Most of the advice is about taking a |
| not boiling pasta or potatoes as long as a recipe says. | | | | different approach to cooking rather than trying |
| Boiled water takes a long time to cool. Turn off the | | | | something that is brand new. Some people end up |
| burner soon after you hit a boil, put a lid on the pot, and | | | | finding the new approaches more convenient than their |
| the cooking will be done fuel-free. | | | | old way and adopt the news ones quickly. It is all about |
| - Grill it. Outdoor frills take less energy than your stove | | | | being mindful about your environment. |