Small appliances

• To heat water, use small appliances that are specially made for this purpose because they are far more economical than the cooker.
• Grilling and toasting small quantities in countertop appliances is more efficient than using the oven.

Refrigerators and freezers

• Modern refrigerators and freezers use 60 to 80 per cent less electricity. A new purchase that's worth every penny!
• The right storage temperatures save energy: 5 to 7 °C in the fridge and -18°C in the freezer.
• Only open the door briefly to keep the cold in.
• Make sure doors seal well and rubber gaskets are intact.
• Regularly defrost refrigerators and freezers that don't have any no-frost function. The layer of ice around the inside of the freezer acts as insulating material.
• Keep ventilation grilles clean and unobstructed, this prevents heat building up.

Cooker

• Modern cookers use about 30 per cent less electricity that older ones do.
• Make use of the residual heat from hobs and ovens and turn them off in good time.
• There's no need to pre-heat any more, particularly in newer over models and fan-assisted ovens.
• The hob you choose should always be the same size as the saucepan or frying pan.
• Put the right size of well-closing lid on saucepans. This keeps the heat in and cuts power consumption by about a third.
• Heat small quantities up to 400 g in the microwave.
• Only use the oven for larger quantities, and cook several dishes/cakes and pastries at the same time. This makes optimum use of heat.

Dishwasher

• Modern dishwashers save more energy than washing up by hand.
• Do not pre-rinse plates and dishes under running water.
• A tightly closing door prevents any left-on food drying out. An economy programme and less detergent will then be sufficient for getting items clean.
• Don't bother with pre-rinsing programmes, use a short-cycle or economy programme instead.
• Only turn the dishwasher on when it's full. Washing up small quantities by hand is more economical.
• Pay attention to water hardness when deciding how much detergent to use. Regularly top up salt and rinse-aid and regularly clean the strainer.