10 Steps to a Greener Kitchen

Pay attention to your fridge. Up to 25% of your electric bill can come from your fridge, so keep it running efficiently by keeping compressor coils clean. Just vacuum them once or twice per year.
Check your temperature. Set your refrigerator temperature between 37 – 40 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer temperature at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Also check to make sure the seals are in good shape so that the cold air stays in the unit.
Thaw it out. Thaw frozen foods completely in the refrigerator before cooking them to reduce the amount of energy needed to cook your dish.
Don't delay. Place food in the oven as soon as it is preheated – and don’t open the oven door too often – to avoid using more energy than necessary to cook the food.
Take advantage of your toaster oven. Cook small portions in the microwave or toaster oven, which both use much less electricity than your oven – doing so can save as much as 80% of the electrical energy you use on cooking.
Use the range/stovetop. Use the range/stovetop rather than the oven when possible. Make sure to match the pots and pans to the burner size and use lids on your pots to minimize heat loss.
Mind the heat. In the summer, avoid using appliances that produce heat during the hottest part of the day – these appliances heat your home and cause the air conditioner to work harder, which uses more energy.
Fill it up. Wait until your dishwasher is full before using it, and turn off the drying cycle if you don’t need to have dry dishes immediately.
Scrape, don't rinse. Save water by scraping dishes instead of rinsing them before loading them into the dishwasher.
Fix leaks. One of the benefits of having a landlord is that they will fix things – have your landlord fix a leaky faucet or dishwasher; leaks account for 13% of home water usage, on average.

RESOURCES

Learn how to make your fridge more efficient.

Learn how to clean your fridge to make it more efficient.