Everyday Tips

• Cook in a microwave whenever possible. A microwave uses 40 percent less electricity than a stove because it cooks food faster at a lower wattage.
• Defrost foods before baking or roasting to save up to 50 percent of the total cooking time. Defrosting foods in the refrigerator is ideal – the cold air goes into refrigeration rather than escaping into your kitchen.
• Rely on your oven thermostat and recipe time rather than checking on your cooking food. Opening the oven door can lose up to 20 percent of the heat.
• Bake in glass or ceramic pans, allowing you to bake at a temperature 25 degrees lower than your recipe recommends.
• Use lids. Foods in covered cookware retain heat better and will cook at a lower temperature on your range. To save a little extra energy, turn elements on the range off a few minutes ahead of schedule and allow retained heat to cook.
• Use flat bottom pans to ensure efficient transfer of heat from the heating element to the pan. Also make sure the element is no larger than the bottom of the pan.
• Consider using a pressure-cooker. By cooking food at a higher temperature and pressure, cooking time is reduced dramatically and energy use is cut by at least 50 percent.

Selecting/Installing

• Look for an oven with increased insulation and a good gasket to ensure a tight-fitting door. Self-cleaning ovens typically come with more insulation and are a good bet, as long as you don’t use the self-cleaning feature too often given the amount of energy self-cleaning takes.
• Consider the size of your oven when shopping. A small oven may fit your needs as well as a larger one that requires more energy.
• If you like to check on your food as it bakes, buy an oven with a window so that you won’t have to open the door during cooking.
• Though pricey, induction elements are significantly more efficient than conventional electric coil elements. Note: Induction elements require that you use only iron or steel pots and pans. Aluminum pans will not work with these newer elements.

Maintenance

• Check to make sure the gasket on your oven door is keeping the door shut tightly. Adjust or replace the gasket if it is not providing a good seal.
• Keep the burner elements on your range clean, allowing for more efficient transfer of heat. Also be sure the reflective pans under the element are clean and shiny. A shiny surface reflects back heat more effectively.
• Clean the inside walls of your microwave to improve the efficiency of microwave heating.

Idaho Power has programs to help save you energy. Our Home Products Program offers mail-in rebates on select ENERGY STAR qualified appliances including refrigerators and freezers. Our See ya later, refrigerator® Program offers free pick up and recycling of your spare refrigerator or freezer plus a $30 incentive.