Doing a full-kitchen remodel is expensive. Nevertheless, if you’ve decided to take the plunge, it’s worthwhile investing in equipment and fittings that will counter rising energy costs and result in lower utility bills over time.

The kitchen may well be the heart of the home; but did you know that some 41.5% of your household energy consumption may be going into cooking, heating, refrigeration, and lighting? Kitchen appliances alone can be responsible for around 20% of your energy bills!

A full-kitchen remodel is an excellent opportunity to cut energy costs: The big energy guzzlers in the kitchen can be broken down into four principal categories:

• Appliances
• Lighting
• Insulation
• Plumbing and water heating

There is a certain amount you can do yourself to achieve energy efficiency in the kitchen. However, before you decide to do any remodeling on your own, consider that an energy-efficient kitchen remodel also involves plumbing and electricity. This means that quality work — as well as the invaluable advice given by licensed professionals — are essential both for safety and for achieving cost savings.

In addition, a lot depends on external factors, such as when and how your home was built, and the climate in your area. When selecting a contractor for a major remodel, some homeowners prefer to get at least three quotations from different contractors, and they must be sure that the contractor they select has the proper insurance coverage and qualifications for the job.

Appliances
Refrigerators and freezers are the kitchen’s biggest energy consumers. A model that is more than 12 years old may consume as much as 40% more electricity than a new one! Although an Energy Star labeled appliance costs more initially, you’ll save on electric bills in the long run.

For example, an Energy Star refrigerator will save you up to 60% electricity use over that 12-year old model. The U.S. Department of Energy publishes a guide (available at appliance retailers or on the Internet) that compares the estimated annual electricity consumption of refrigerators.

For an average family, a range and oven can eat up as much as 700 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year. Several energy saving options are on the market. For example, convection ovens reduce cooking time by around 30%, and light energy ovens (combination microwave/regular ovens) cut cooking time by up to 75%. For the range, induction cooking units greatly reduce the amount of heat used for cooking, especially compared to gas.

Lighting
A good lighting plan should be a fundamental part of your kitchen remodel. Lighting represents nearly 15% of your electric bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The good news is that you can reduce this expense considerably by simply exchanging the light bulbs for an energy saving type.

Compact fluorescent lighting (CFL) can consume up to 80% less than incandescent bulbs, and the CFL bulb lasts up to 10 times longer. That means that for one bulb, you can achieve a saving of around $30 over its lifetime. There is also LED lighting technology, which is good for areas like the kitchen, and can consume up to 90% less electricity than an incandescent bulb.

Insulation
Are you heating your home just to have the warmth go out the window? If walls, windows, and doors are not properly insulated, then no amount of remodeling will reduce your heating bill.

Installing an Energy Star window can save an average $100 a year if you have a traditional single-pane window in your kitchen. These windows reduce air leaking out, and use solar control to maximize the natural daylight coming in. Energy-saving features to look for when replacing windows are double-glazed panes with vinyl, fiberglass, or wood-composite frames.

Exterior wall insulation is very important in homes that have wall cavities. It ranks as high as insulating the loft. Installation must be done by a professional, who injects the insulation material into the walls using special equipment. Cavity-wall insulation greatly reduces moisture and condensation problems by reducing air circulation within the walls.

Plumbing
Plumbing technologies that reduce water consumption include tankless water heaters and PEX (polythene piping). Around 14% of your electric bill goes to water heating. With a traditional hot-water tank, you heat the water just to have the heat sit in the tank until it is used. The tankless water heater heats the water on demand, meaning you heat only the water you are using, and no more.

Copper water pipes not only corrode, they also lose heat. PEX pipes are cheaper to install and deliver hot water to the taps quicker than copper pipes, thereby considerably reducing water and electricity consumption.