Energy efficiency in the kitchen – the ultimate guide from Caple

Right now, we are spending so much more time at home during lockdown, it makes sense that our energy use and electricity bills will be rising. Just think of all those additional cups of tea and coffee, Netflix viewing and laptops switched on and plugged in. However, you can reduce your environmental impact

in your home and save pennies in the long-run, too. In fact, one of the best ways in which to do this can be to consider energy efficiency in your kitchen. So we asked our product manager Luke Shipway to come up with his top tips and pick of kitchen products, which can help you lower your carbon footprint.

Using this addition to your wet zone will provide you with exactly the right amount of steaming water on demand. This way, you won’t have to waste any H2O or electricity and of course this will save you time as you no longer have to wait for that kettle to boil. In addition, these taps look good and I think that’s an important factor if you’re looking for a stylish energy-saving solution.
Our steaming Vapos 3-in-1 tap is WRAS-approved and supplies fresh cold, regular hot and filtered 98°C steaming water from its spout.

A modern dishwasher should have a special energy efficiency programme, which will enable you to use less power to heat the water. The appliance may then use less water, too. Did you know these eco cycles can utilise as little as nine litres?

You can also use a delay timer, so you can set your model to come on in the evening when electricity bills will be lower. Then why not simply unload everything the next morning? You could also wait till your dishwasher is full before putting it through a full cycle.

Our Which? Best Buy A++ Di481 slim-line model has an eco function, which uses as little as nine litres of water, plus an express and rapid programme. Eco may take 30 minutes longer than a standard setting but electricity consumption will be cut by 28%. This saves more than three litres of water in every wash and it even comes with a handy delay timer.

Our national trainer Jo Underhay is a big fan of batch cooking. After all, it’s a great way in which to feed the family as you can simply create portions, which you can then refrigerate or freeze later. This actually helps you to save energy as you can reheat each ‘ready meal’ in the microwave, rather than having to cook from scratch in an oven every time.

You can even take the guesswork out of cooking and save energy. This microwave can automatically set and maintain the correct power levels and cooking times for a variety of produce, from milk to vegetables. You can also try leaving meat out of your diet for a few meals each week as this will lower your carbon footprint.

When it comes to choosing your hob for a new kitchen project, an induction model will be most environmentally friendly. This is because a magnetic field, below the glass surface, generates heat directly to the pan. So, there is no excess heat and you can even buy smart technology models. which can detect a pan which is moved. This will automatically switch off the zone your pan has left and will heat the exact area you move it to.

Our new C990i induction hob features smart pan detection and boil control, which will detect rising bubbles and automatically adjusts the temperature to 94°C saving energy.

These are one of the few appliances which are on 24/7 so you need to make sure your fridge-freezer is running as well as possible. Today’s models have energy efficiency ratings from A+ to A+++. This label actually compares your appliance’s energy consumption with its internal volume. So, you’ll find the energy rating is reflected according to its size. However, you can also help to make your

 fridge-freezer even more energy efficient. Simply position it away from direct sunlight and away from your cooker. Don’t leave the door open for too long – some models come with an alarm, which will sound as a reminder to close. These days, it’s possible to buy a fridge-freezer with more than one separate temperature zone. So, these can be turned off independently, which will help to conserve energy.

Our A++ CAFF60 fridge-freezer features six compartments and three temperature zones, which can be turned off independently, making it a smart appliance which is environmentally friendly.

When it comes to laundry energy efficiency, you should find there are a variety of washing programmes which can help. For example, a quick wash should instantly use less water, which will be heated at a lower temperature. In addition, the spin cycle will be shorter too,

 which will all help to save water and energy. Washing your clothes at 30°C is another great way in which to be more energy efficient. These days, you’ll find detergents work just as well at lower temperatures. Try to use an economy cycle and switch on your washing machine with a full load.

Our new WMI4000 model features an A+++ energy rating includes rapid washing for 14, 30 and 44 mins. Our new A+ fully integrated TDI4000 has been designed

with a heat pump and sensor drying. This method is extremely energy efficient, as it uses 50% of the energy which would be used for a conventional tumble dryer.

This appliance is renowned for using a lot of electricity so it makes sense to look for an energy efficient model. Appliances with reverse tumble action can make a great choice as they spin in both directions, so your washing will dry more efficiently. Sensor drying should be a key feature too. This is a revolutionary method,

which can use up to half the energy you would expect from a conventional tumble dryer. It actually monitors the humidity or moisture of the items in the drum then will adjust the programme time accordingly. I think models which cater for small loads are great too, as they will instantly use less energy to dry everything inside.