Kitchen
The kitchen is where small changes can make a significant difference to your home’s environmental footprint – it accounts for 16% of your home’s energy bill and around 10% of your household water use.
Simple, inexpensive actions can reduce your energy and water bill, minimise waste and reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.
Did you know?
A microwave in stand-by mode, with just the clock operating, adds around $35 a year to your electricity bill.
Fridge
Your fridge accounts for around 7% of your annual electricity bill. Energy-efficient fridges and freezers make a big difference - check the energy-star rating before you buy.
The Australian Government Energy Rating compares all fridge makes and models including their energy usage and operating cost per annum.
Did you know?
An old 3-star rated 400L fridge (a typical garage or shed fridge) will add $230 a year to your electricity bill. A new 3-star 400L fridge costs around $83 a year. A 400L fridge with a maximum 6-star energy rating can use as little as 250kW per year and cost about $40 a year to run.
- Position your fridge away from direct sunlight or heat sources including the oven, stovetop and dishwasher
- Clean the coils on the back of your fridge and ensure there is at least 8cm space around and above the fridge for good air flow, this will allow hot air to escape
- Check your fridge seals – if you can’t hold a $5 dollar note in place when the fridge door is closed, your fridge is costing you money
- Your fridge’s temperature setting determines how much energy it uses. Set your fridge to 4C - every degree cooler increases electricity consumption by around 5% and adds to your electricity bill.
- Recycle your old second fridge – you’ll save up to $250 on your electricity bill each year and be paid for your fridge. www.fridgebuyback.com.au
- Install a grate in the floor under the fridge to draw cool air behind the fridge and exhaust it through a small grate at the back of the cupboard above the fridge. By allowing the hot air to escape, you’ll improve the energy efficiency of your fridge by 25%
- Only keep items that require cooling in the fridge, many vegetables can be stored in a cool cupboard.
Cool cupboard
A cool cupboard is designed to keep items cool by taking cool air from below the house and venting the hot air out of the top of the cupboard. Creating a cool cupboard next to your fridge and creating ventilation for both, will maximise air flow and help reduce energy bills.
Dishwasher
Look for models that have a high star-rating for energy and water use. If you have an old dishwasher consider upgrading, a new water and energy efficient dishwasher could easily pay for itself by reducing your electricity and water bills.
Did you know?
An old 2-star dishwasher costs 27.6 cents per hour in electricity.
A new 3-star dishwasher costs 10.4 cents per hour. You’ll make even more savings with a 4-star rated dishwasher.
- Don’t leave your dishwasher in stand-by mode
- Only turn your dishwasher on when you have a full load
- Run the dishwasher outside peak energy periods – it will cost less.
Food and cooking
- Gas cooking or using a microwave generates an average of 40% less greenhouse gas emissions than cooking using an electric stove top or oven.
- Microwaves, electric frypans or pressure cookers are much more energy efficient than using the oven – a pressure cooker saves around 25% of the energy used by a standard convection oven.
- Choose the right sized hotplate for your pot or pan
- Resist the temptation to open the oven door or take lids off pans while cooking
- Reduce your electricity bill and cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by putting a lid on your pot while you are cooking.
Did you know?
Every litre of water you boil generates up to a kilogram of greenhouse gas.
Kitchen products in the Live Green House
Tefal Quick Cup
This energy-saving "kettle" gives you filtered hot water in 3-seconds and saves around 65% in energy when compared with a standard kettle.
Bokashi Bucket
Organic waste is a valuable resource that can be used to improve soil quality. There are several ways in which you can recycle your organic waste including using a worm farm, compost bin or Bokashi Bucket.
Using a fermented grain, a Bokashi Bucket breaks down kitchen waste into compost and liquid. Your plants will thrive, and by diverting kitchen waste and organics from landfill you'll be reducing methane and other greenhouse gas emissions. Available at www.todae.com.au
KeepCup
A paper coffee cup takes more than 50 years to biodegrade and there are millions of disposable paper and polystyrene cups contributing to the degradation of our planet. KeepCup keeps the count down. www.keepcup.com.au
The KeepCup – designed, tooled and manufactured in Australia – is a re-usable, barista-standard take-away coffee cup made from polypropylene (a food-safe grade plastic).
Coza sustainable tableware
These table pieces embody sustainable design principles: the fabrication process considers the environment in manufacture and waste products
- pigments used in the manufacture are biodegradable
- oil used in the moulding machines is recycled
- scrap metal created in the fabrication process is recycled
- the products can be recycled.
Coza serving platter
This serving platter is made from Lignin. This material is created by injecting polypropylene into cellulose and natural fibres such as linen, hemp and sisal.
Turning waste products into new products or services is an important part of sustainable practice. Recycled material products can be high quality items that are as beautifully crafted as products that use virgin materials. www.coza.com.br/home
Husque Bowl
This bowl has been manufactured from a waste material – macadamia kernels. Milled macadamia shell has been processed with Polymer to create a dense mouldable material. Each product is handmade and finished with macadamia oil.
The macadamia nut is native to the east coast of Australia making macadamia an appropriate crop for plantation and harvest. Recycled material products can be high quality items that are as beautifully crafted as products that use virgin materials www.husque.com
The products displayed in the Live Green House have been provided by sponsors for illustrative purposes. The inclusion of a product in the Live Green House does not constitute an endorsement by the City of Sydney of a particular branded product. There may be alternative products that are also appropriate choices.
Last Updated: Tuesday 16 August, 2011