Which Kitchen Appliance Uses The Least Energy?
With rising energy costs around the world, many homeowners are looking for ways to reduce their electricity usage. One area where savings can be found is in the kitchen by using the most energy efficient appliances. This article will examine which common kitchen appliances use the least amount of energy.
The thesis is that induction cooktops and microwaves are the most energy efficient options for cooking and reheating food in the kitchen. By choosing these appliances over less efficient models like gas ranges and conventional ovens, substantial energy savings can be realized over time.
Ovens
Ovens are available in a variety of types, including conventional, convection, toaster, and microwave combo. Conventional ovens use radiant heat from heating elements to cook food. They are less energy efficient, as they heat up the whole interior cavity. Convection ovens use fans to circulate hot air around the food, allowing for quicker and more even cooking at lower temperatures. This makes convection ovens about 15-20% more energy efficient than conventional. Toaster ovens are smaller and generally more efficient for smaller cooking tasks. Microwave-convection oven combos provide the speed of microwave cooking along with the browning and crisping ability of a standard oven.
Ranges and Cooktops
When it comes to ranges and cooktops, the most energy efficient option is induction. Induction cooktops heat food through electromagnetic induction rather than thermal conduction from electrical coils or burning gas. This makes them significantly more efficient than traditional electric or gas ranges and cooktops.
According to Consumer Reports, induction ranges are 5-10% more efficient than conventional electric and about 3 times more efficient than gas. The per unit efficiency of induction cooktops is 84% compared to 74% for electric and 40% for gas.
Induction also heats up and cooks food faster than other range types. In tests, induction boiled water in 93 seconds compared to 123 seconds for electric and 151 seconds for gas. Faster cooking times lead to additional energy savings.
The only downside of induction cooktops is that they require compatible cookware with ferromagnetic bases. But most modern cookware is induction-compatible, so this is less of an issue today. Overall, induction clearly comes out on top for efficiency.
Microwaves
Microwave ovens only use electricity when operating, as there is no need to keep food warm like a conventional oven. According to the US Department of Energy, microwaves use approximately 50-70% less energy than conventional ovens. This is because microwaves heat and cook food faster by exciting water molecules directly, rather than warming the entire interior of the oven.1
The amount of electricity a microwave oven uses depends on its wattage and how long it runs. A typical microwave is 700-1200 watts. To calculate energy use, multiply the wattage by the number of minutes used per day and then by 0.001 to convert watts to kilowatt-hours (kWh). For example, a 1000 watt microwave used for 30 minutes per day would use 1.0 * 0.5 hours * 0.001 = 0.5 kWh per day. On average, microwave ovens in American homes use around 117 kWh per year.2 This is far less than a conventional oven.
Refrigerators
Refrigerators are one of the most energy intensive appliances in the home. The average refrigerator uses around 100-150 watts per hour (although newer models are becoming much more efficient). This equals 720-1080 kilowatt hours per year for an older refrigerator. Newer Energy Star certified refrigerators only use around 300-450 kWh per year, representing a 50-75% reduction in energy usage.
Refrigerators with top freezer configurations tend to be more energy efficient than bottom freezer or side-by-side models. Features like through-the-door water and ice dispensing can also impact energy usage. The most efficient refrigerators today are Energy Star certified and use high efficiency compressors, improved insulation, and thoughtful design to minimize energy waste.
According to the EPA, an Energy Star certified refrigerator is estimated to use at least 15% less energy than a standard model. Models that earn the Energy Star Most Efficient designation use at least 20% less energy. For example, a new Energy Star refrigerator may use around 300-450 kWh per year, while an older inefficient model might use 720-1080 kWh per year under normal usage conditions.
Key factors that affect refrigerator energy efficiency include the age of the unit, configuration (top freezer vs bottom freezer), features like through-door dispensers, compressor efficiency, and quality of insulation. Paying attention to Energy Star ratings and looking for “most efficient” models is the best way to minimize refrigerator energy usage.
Sources:
https://blog.se.com/sustainability/2023/01/24/how-much-electricity-does-a-refrigerator-dishwasher-and-an-electric-car-use-we-did-the-math/
https://www.bluettipower.com/blogs/news/how-many-watts-does-a-refrigerator-use
Dishwashers
When it comes to saving energy and water, research shows that using a dishwasher is generally more efficient than handwashing dishes. According to a study done at the University of Bonn in Germany, a dishwasher only uses about half the energy and one-sixth of the water compared to washing dishes by hand. The study found that the average dishwasher uses about 3.2 kWh of electricity and 15 liters of water per use, while handwashing dishes can use as much as 6.5 kWh of electricity and 100 liters of water to clean the same load of dishes (source: https://www.treehugger.com/built-in-dishwashers-vs-hand-washing-which-is-greener-4858791). The key is to run full loads and use the energy-saving settings on your dishwasher.
Modern dishwashers are designed to maximize water and energy efficiency. They recirculate and reuse wash and rinse water multiple times rather than letting the water go down the drain after a single use. This allows them to get dishes clean with much less water compared to handwashing. Dishwashers also heat water internally very efficiently, rather than relying on continuous hot water from your home’s water heater like handwashing does.
Kettles
Kettles are one of the most energy efficient small kitchen appliances. Electric kettles generally use between 1200-2400 watts. A typical electric kettle with a 1.5 liter capacity uses about 2000 watts. To heat 6 cups of water from room temperature to boiling takes around 4 minutes and consumes around 0.07 kWh.
This is much more efficient than heating water on a stovetop kettle. Stovetop kettles can use over twice as much energy depending on the stove. Gas stoves are typically 45-58% efficient at transferring heat from the burner to the kettle. Electric coil stovetops are about 74% efficient. In contrast, electric kettles convert nearly 100% of electricity into heat and boil water faster.
Features like temperature control, keep warm settings, and auto shut off further improve efficiency. For example, instant hot water on demand without needing to boil an entire kettle. Overall, electric kettles are one of the most energy efficient small appliances commonly used in kitchens.
Coffee Makers
When it comes to coffee makers, there are two main types – drip coffee makers and pod coffee makers. Drip coffee makers work by heating water and dripping it over coffee grounds to brew a pot of coffee. Pod coffee makers use single-serve coffee pods and only heat the amount of water needed for one cup at a time.
In general, drip coffee makers tend to use more energy than pod coffee makers. According to Energy Bot, a typical 10-12 cup drip coffee maker uses around 1,100-1,300 watts while brewing. Meanwhile, a single-serve pod coffee maker like a Keurig only uses about 1,500 watts when it is brewing a single pod. Since it is only heating 8-12 ounces of water at a time, it uses less energy overall compared to heating a full pot of water for drip coffee.
However, pod coffee makers may end up using more energy in the long run if multiple pods are brewed throughout the day. Using a programmable drip coffee maker to brew a large batch just once per day would be the most energy efficient option for coffee.
Blenders
Blenders require a moderate amount of electricity to operate. The power rating for a typical blender ranges from 300 to 1,000 watts. Based on the average power rating of 500 watts, a blender running for 15 minutes would use around 125 watt-hours (0.125 kWh) of electricity (Source 1). This is roughly equivalent to running a 60-watt light bulb for 2 hours.
Compared to other appliances, blenders use less energy than ovens, ranges, dishwashers, and refrigerators. However, they require more electricity than small countertop appliances like coffee makers and electric kettles. The blender motor needs significant power to crush ice, blend smoothies, and puree food. Newer models with advanced motors can blend efficiently while using less energy.
Tips to reduce a blender’s energy consumption include: using the pulse function instead of continuous blending, starting on lower speeds before ramping up, blending only as much food as needed, and unplugging the blender when not in use (Source 2). Overall, blenders are not major energy hogs, but there are still ways to use them more efficiently.
Conclusion
In summary, we looked at some of the most common kitchen appliances and how much energy they use. The kettle is by far the most energy efficient, using only about 1-2 cents worth of electricity to boil a pot of water. Microwaves and coffee makers are also relatively efficient. On the other end of the spectrum, ovens, ranges, dishwashers, and refrigerators use the most energy. This is due to the need to maintain high temperatures for extended periods of time.
When it comes to reducing your home energy use, start with water heating and cooking appliances. Use your microwave when possible instead of the oven, and switch to more efficient models when it’s time to replace older appliances. Also consider adding smart plugs to better track energy use over time. With some simple changes, you can start saving energy and money in the kitchen.
