Get a greener kitchen

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Storing and cooking food takes a third of the electricity we use in our homes, and the more energy you use, the more you contribute to climate change.

There are greener choices you can make when buying and using fridges, freezers and cookers, or even when making a cup of tea.

Energy efficient cooking

Things to consider:

Putting a lid on a pan will significantly reduce the amount of time it takes to boil.

Microwaves can be a greener choice because they cook food much faster and so use less energy than conventional ovens (either gas or electric).

Electric kettles use nearly a third of all the electricity an average household uses for cooking, so only boiling as much water as you need can help save a lot of energy.

Buying a new cooker, kettle, fridge or freezer that saves energy..

Things to consider when choosing kitchen appliances:

As a general rule, gas is a greener choice than electricity for cooking as it has lower climate change effects - the exceptions to this rule are: microwaves, as they are more energy efficient than gas or electric ovens; and electric induction hobs, which match the energy efficiency of gas hobs.

If you do need to get an electric oven, they are covered by the European Energy label so look for one with the highest energy efficiency rating (gas ovens are not covered by the scheme but are still the greenest choice).

If you are buying a new fridge or freezer look for one that has the Energy Saving Recommended label, this can only be used by the most energy efficient products, usually the top 20 per cent of those available.

Fridges and freezers are also covered by the European Union (EU) energy label - many fridges and freezers in the UK are now 'A rated' for energy efficiency, so you can now choose A+ or A++ to get the most efficient models.

Buying the smallest fridge or freezer that meets your needs can make a big difference - even when they are both 'A' rated, a typical larger sized 'American-style' fridge freezer uses a lot more energy than an average sized fridge-freezer.