This year, as you count your blessings, South Kentucky RECC urges you to also think about energy-efficiency as you begin cooking those special items for your family for the holidays.

While today’s new kitchen appliances use substantially less electricity that those built just a decade ago, when the holidays roll around, your bills can rise considerably, with those appliances working overtime.

Here are a few tips to keep your electric bills in check:

· Don’t open the oven door to take a peek at what’s cooking inside. Instead, turn on the oven light and check the cooking status through the oven window.

· Cook several items at the same time – just make sure you leave enough room for the heat to circulate around each item.

· When cooking on top of your range, match the size of the pan to the heating element. More heat will get to the pan and less will be lost to the surrounding air.

· Don’t overlook other cooking appliances at Thanksgiving. Fast and efficient microwave ovens use around 50 percent less energy than conventional ovens, and they don’t heat up your kitchen.

· Remember your small appliances, great energy savers that can save you money all year long. Crock-pots are perfect for busy families. Electric skillets can steam, fry, saute’, stew, bake, or roast a variety of food items, if you’re baking or broiling small food items, a toaster oven is ideal because it use one-third the energy of a bigger oven.

· Help your refrigerator and freezer operate efficiently and economically by keeping the doors closed as much as possible so the cold air doesn’t escape.

· It’s easy to keep your refrigerator and freezer full at Thanksgiving. It’s also energy efficient, because the mass of cold items inside will help your refrigerator recover each time the door is opened. Don’t cram it so full, however, that cool air can’t circulate properly around your food.

· If you opt to use the dishwasher, wash full loads only. If you must rinse your dishes before loading them, use only cold water so you’re not running up your energy bill by heating water unnecessarily.

· Don’t forget to use the energy-saving cycles on your dishwasher whenever possible, and air dry dishes rather than let the dishwasher dry them.

South Kentucky RECC wishes your family a safe, happy, energy-efficient Thanksgiving!