Saving Energy in the Kitchen

The kitchen, with all its appliances, gadgets and heat, is a real hotspot for potential energy saving. As the oven uses the most energy and creates a vast amount of heat while cooking foods, it is a good place to start.

 For instance, when baking cookies use two trays. While one is in the oven baking, the other one is prepped with raw cookies – ready to replace the tray in the oven with no wasted heat and some time saved. When we bake bread we also fill the oven with foil wrapped potatoes. The potatoes can be stored in the fridge without the foil and used throughout the week in a myriad of recipes, or as a side dish. This method can be applied to a menu plan in that if you are baking one dish, try to include a side dish that is baked as well.

    By turning off the oven a minute or two before the dish is done, the residual heat will finish the cooking. When done with the oven, open the door to allow any leftover heat to warm the home.

Pasta cooking water can be left out until it has completely cooled – so that the heat and moisture are released back into the air. Before pulling the plug, consider leaving hot dishwater (and bath water) until it cools. Why pay to heat up your sewer pipes? When cooking vegetables, consider steaming instead of boiling. When steamed, more nutrients are retained in the food, and because it requires less water to heat  - there is less energy used.

In summer, consider cooking on the barbecue to help keep the house cool. Most barbecues now include side burners that make outdoor cooking all that much easier.
All these methods are relatively easy to adopt and when added up, the savings in energy and time really do make a difference.

Three ways to save fuel and energy with magnets.

Copyright 2006 Dr Phil Hariram The theory behind using a powerful magnetic field to improve fuel burn in combustion engines is nothing new. Magnetic fields were use to improve the combustion of fuel as early as 1940s. The US air force used magnets on their Mustang aircraft and produced greater range and performance from poor quality fuel. In 1952, Felix Bloch and Edward Mills Purcell were jointly awarded a Nobel Prize for their work on magnetic fields on solid, liquid and gas substances. There are three ways magnets save energy and fuel. Attach a magnet to the fuel lead pipe of your burner. The magnet conditions the fuel allowing greater combustion. This happens immediately. You produce more heat for the same amount of fuel and harmful emission is cut. I have Calorgas (Liquid Petroleum Gas) central heating. Since attaching a magnet, my direct debit has been cut by 110%. If your boiler is old and inefficient, instead of buying a new boiler, try a magnet first. In addition the cleaner burn means that the boiler will need less servicing and lasts longer. If your boiler is already efficient, then the benefit will be less. You cannot create energy during a chemical reaction. Magnets, however, allow as close to 100% combustion. Instead of buying an expensive new boiler, attach a magnet. Attach a magnet to the fuel feed of your car and your save fuel, energy and reduce emission. The magnet improves combustion. This produces better miles per gallon, more power and a smoother running engine. In 1992, The Warren Springs Laboratories, the UK Government DTI's own vehicle testing department, were commissioned to carry out extensive trials on the benefits of magnetic fuel on motor vehicles and were very surprised by the results. Their 16-page in-depth report confirmed increased power, improved fuel economy and a reduction in harmful emissions. If your car is old with poor emission levels, the magnet will slowly clean the engine. So initially the emission will be higher than expected but eventually the level will drop significantly. A friend of mine tows a caravan with his Peugeot 2L HDi Partner Quicksilver. Since attaching a magnet his mpg has jumped up a further 10 mpg. Normally you would expect about 10% improvement. Magnets stop and reduce lime scale. Lime scale forms because the solubility of calcium carbonate decreases with increased temperature. As calcium carbonate separates out, lime scale is formed. Lime scale affects heat transfer. A layer of calcium carbonate 25mm. thick can decrease heat transfer by 95% and a 0.5mm layer of silica causes a decrease of 90%. In addition if lime scale collects on the heating element in your hot water tank, the element will not last long. Lime scale causes problems in washing machines. If a magnet is attached at an angle perpendicular to the flow of water, it stops the lime scale deposits and breaks down the deposited lime scale. No one knows exactly why this happens but the magnet keeps calcium and magnesium in solution and stops them separating out and producing lime scale. It also lowers surface tension and stabilises pH. The magnetised water will protect your washing machine but will not stop lime scales in your kettle. This is because the magnetic effect is neutralised when the kettle is boiled. So there you have it. With fuel prices going upwards at regular intervals, attach a magnet to your boiler, your water system and your car and save energy, save fuel, save money, reduce emission and prolong the life of your boiler and car. With global warming a major current issue, it is up to all of us to do our bit. In Germany, if your boiler emission level is too high, your pay a fine. One day it will come to Britain and USA. If you have emission problem, a magnet will quickly solve it. The right magnet will keep its magnetic properties for 100 years and you take it with you when you move home or change cars. It needs no maintenance. You just simply forget about it.