Kitchen Design Tips to Reduce Your Cost of Living

With the cost-of-living crisis in full swing and energy bills rising again, we’re all feeling the pressure. If you are considering a new kitchen and trying to reduce your energy usage around the home, good design can help you reduce your bills and to help you create an energy-efficient kitchen.

Start with Lighting.

Natural light is free! If you can increase the amount of natural light that floods into your kitchen, this results in fewer lighting fixtures. Kitchen re-design is usually a result of an extension, build-in skylights, additional windows or glass doors where you can.

Consider Slimline appliances.

Around 16% of a household’s energy use is in the kitchen, according to figures produced by the Energy Saving Trust. Manage your cooking and cooling costs and reduce your bills.

Beyond choosing A-Rated appliances that are energy efficient, choose appliances that meet your needs correctly.

Your lifestyle may mean a small single oven will do, and purchasing a vast range oven may look good, but will you be spending more money on something you won’t use? You’ll also regularly spend more money heating it.

Invest in a Boiling Water Tap.

Taps that produce instant hot water for the kitchen can use up to 50% less energy than traditional kettles. Using them to start cooking something like pasta on a hob will cost you less when it comes to your bills!

Release the heat.

Open your oven door after cooking to utilize the heat from the cooking process – this may save you from turning on the heating for a little evening boost. NEFF has a popular ‘Hide and Slide’ model, which means the door can be safely hidden away and maximize heat gain.

Make your Microwave work.

Microwaves use less energy than ovens (the Centre for Sustainable Energy estimates that the cost to use an oven for 10 minutes is around 8 to 9p, compared to 3 to 6p for a microwave), so if you have one, it’s worth using it more. Microwaves are also energy-efficient because they only heat the food itself rather than warm the air around the food and don’t use energy to warm up.

Reduce Waste with Good design.

Practical and effective storage solutions designed around the way you live are a great way to reduce waste in the kitchen and save money. Good design and easy access to each cabinet can help you avoid the annual spring clean of out-of-date jars, tins, and packets and save hundreds of pounds yearly in food waste.

If it is an energy-efficient dream kitchen that you are looking for then Schmidt Kitchens are going to be at the Homebuilding and Renovating Show at the Bath & South West showground this year.

Why not come and join them on the 19th and 20th of November and see what they have to offer! They will be at Stand 425.

170 – 172 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2XU.

Call Schmidt Kitchens on (0117) 301 8888

Be inspired www.home-design.schmidt; Email info@schmidt-bristol.com