Appliances

   

☕ Big Energy Users
☕ Vampire Appliances
☕ Efficient Appliances
☕ Cooktops and Ovens
☕ The Plug-in Kitchen
☕ Essential Items

Big Energy Users

The big energy users in the home are usually calculated over a period and you get different answers depending on who you ask, but as a guide, according to ‘perch energy’, these home appliances use the most electricity:

  1.  Heating and cooling: 45-50%
    The most efficient are the reversible air conditioners.
  2. Water heater: 12%
    If practical use a solar water heater.
  3. Lighting: 9-12%
    Convert your lights to LED lamps. The NSW Govt has a scheme to change over down-lights for a minimum cost.
  4. Refrigerator:  8% 
    Convert to a more efficient machine. NSW has a scheme for converting old machines at about 60% cost.
  5. Washer and dryer: 5% 
    Use a front loading machine and convert dryer to a heat pump. This will depend on how much you have to use the clothes dryer.
  6. Electric oven: 3% 
    More efficient ovens are now available but air-fryers and microwaves are quicker and more efficient.
  7.  Dishwasher: 2%
    Dishwashers are quite effective but can now be bought in smaller sizes
  8.  TV and cable box: 2% 
    New boxes are now very efficient but can be switched off if not in use.

Electricity usage data was compiled from multiple sources including Silicon Valley Power, Green Logic Energy, and Enery.gov’s appliance energy estimator.

Vampire Appliances

'Vampire' appliances use the most energy on standby mode and when powered off. Turn off at the power point when not in use, it also stops smart TVs and IOTs from spying on you. These include: Television, Printer, Microwaves, Computers and accessories, Almost anything that has instant on.

Efficient Appliances

If you are an empty nester downsizing or a new couple going into the first home your requirements are similar. There is also the possibility you are the victim of a natural disaster and every cent counts. You need to get new kitchen appliances and you don't have a lot of money to spend on it or the time to do a Choice assessment of the best value for money. Gas appliances are avoided as environmentalists are trying to phase out fossil fuels ASAP. There are many kitchen appliance manufacturers and retailers, some appliances look alike but have a different brand badge. What brand gives value for money and can be relied on?

The kitchen appliance that uses the most electricity over the year is the fridge and the fridge that gets the most approval is the **LG brand** which was awarded by Choice as BEST BRAND fridges for 2022 (equal best). This was the fridge of choice for the NSW government exchange scheme. The fridge comes in different widths and heights to suit common household fridge nooks. Most of the major retailers sell these fridges, some are cheaper than others.

Washers and dryers often come as matching sets and can stand on top of each other. Some units come with the dryer preinstalled as it may be connected to an external vent, but it's not unusual to have it venting into the laundry area. There is an incredible price variance for dryers from $300 to $4000 ranging from simple hot air exhaust systems to highly efficient heat pumps. If you only wash occasionally then buy the cheapest as it can be cheaper per year taking into consideration amortisation and initial outlay. If you do a lot of washing and must use a dryer as a condition of lease then choose the most efficient. The most efficient range in price from $1300 to $3000. Each device can be matched as a washer-dryer combo. The most efficient washers range from $800 to $4000. LG has a reputation for giving good value for money and has a combo priced less than $4000.

Cooktops and Ovens

The built-in oven is probably the most difficult to work with. It takes a long time to reach its operating temperature and doesn't allow fine tuning of the heat. It is also an energy hogger. The most efficient ovens to use are the **air-fryer and microwave oven**. The manufacturers have been busy and now they can offer an air-fryer/microwave machine all in one body.

The gas cooktop as preferred by the TV cooks has changed very little over the years but is being phased out by various governments as a contribution to the abolition of the use of fossil fuels. Many properties have gas cooktops installed, some have the old fashioned electric cooktops while a lucky few have **induction cooktops** which are by far the most efficient. We suggest the use of induction cooktops if you are replacing as the induction has the advantages of gas without any of the disadvantages. There are a number of portable induction plates available as one or many plate versions.

The Plug-in Kitchen

Ignoring built-in appliances like ovens and dishwashers the most economical appliances are in the transportable plug-in varieties. After looking round at the myriad of manufacturers and retail outlets we are just looking at Kmart which has its own 'ANKO' brand of kitchen appliances shown here, and Big W 'House And Home' brand which can be found here.

We use an air-fryer/oven combination for cooking, a Pyrex measuring jug for batter preparation, an egg whisk, teaspoon and tablespoon, sieve, a digital kitchen weighing machine and a 6 pan muffin tray, We find a silicon rubber tray works better but needs a holder to keep it rigid.

Essential Items

We suggest these items for your kitchen:

  1. Kettle - probably the most important item in the kitchen. You can get a cordless kettle from the ultra basic model at $7.50 to a variable temperature glass model at $69 (used for delicate teas).
  2. Toaster - toasters range from $7.50 to $50
  3. Tea/coffee maker - not an essential item in an instant beverage era.
  4. Electric hand mixer - very useful and can be purchased for less than $20
  5. Blender - various types and prices but most do not crush ice.
  6. Steamer
  7. Knife and knife sharpener - a set of good quality sharp knives saves a lot of time and angst in the kitchen, add a carving knife and bread knife as well.
  8. Cutting boards - use plastic to avoid cross-contamination and a good wooden board for everything else including a temporary place to put hot things.
  9. Bowls - a set of 3 Pyrex bowls which fit inside each other allows for easy cleaning and mixing and do not add taste to the ingredients.
  10. Digital Kitchen scale - in all the recipes in the 'Kitchen Companion' the ingredient quantity is given in grams, this is the most accurate measurement you can make. Most quality scales allow a reset to zero to allow measurements to continue without emptying scale.
  11. Google assistant - a smart home probably has a Google nest hub and it is extremely useful for recipes and how to cook various items, plus it can do calculations for you. The other popular smart home device is the Alexa range.
  12. Spoons - a tablespoon of 20 ml capacity and a teaspoon of 5 ml capacity are useful.
  13. Thermometer - both an oven and meat thermometer are useful but not essential.
  14. Colander - very useful
  15. Sieve - usually sold as a set of three, some cooks think them essential.
  16. Cookware - non-stick and suitable for induction etc
    Saucepan set
    Steamer
    Stockpot
    Frying pan(s)
    Wok - flat bottom
  17. Other small items.
    Oven gloves
    Cake pans
    Can opener - electric often has a knife sharpener
    Ring pull can opener - for when fingers are too soft
    Tongs
    Egg yolk separator
    Bottle screw top opener
    Ladle set - suggest hard plastic to avoid scratching cookware non-stick surface


The above items and explanations are incomplete but will be expanded in the style of Mrs Beaton

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