Kitchen

Tips for the kitchen

• A refrigerator door that doesn’t close properly is one of the top energy wasters. Clean the door rim regularly with a damp cloth to make sure the door does shut completely. *
• A refrigerator that is too full or too empty uses more energy. Fill the empty space with empty boxes or bottles, so that it’s ¾ full. **

• Clean your dishwasher regularly: Run the dishwasher with one litre of vinegar every three months. Pour the vinegar into the bottom of the interior. This will break down scale residue and prevent any resistance. Just 1 mm of scale causes resistance that consumes 10% extra energy. Don’t forget to clean the filter! **
• Fill the dishwasher as much as possible! If you only fill it half way, you end up using the machine twice as much... that’s twice as much energy, water, tablets, rinsing agent, and salt! Fill the holes under the pots with small glasses, cups, or plastic boxes to make the most of the space. **

• Defrost your freezer regularly, as an iced-up freezer consumes more energy. An ice layer of just 3 mm will cause your freezer to use 30% more energy than it needs. Don’t forget to clean the grille at the back of a freestanding freezer. If this is dusty, your freezer will produce more heat, increasing energy consumption by up to 30%. **

• Put a lid on the pan. It will boil faster and saves energy! *
  

*   Source: Slimwonen (in Dutch)
** Source: Engie (in Dutch)