Energy costs have a tendency towards being outrageous – and it seems like they simply keep rising as the years go by. Modern families place great emphasis on anything which can help to lower those costs. One surefire way to drop that energy bill? An outdoor kitchen.
Often overlooked as an energy-saving tool, an outdoor kitchen is a space built outside to cook in – just like the name suggests. While it does require a moderate startup fund, the best energy saving tools do. Think about the cost of solar panels or double glazing your windows, for example.
The return on investment, however, is a large one – especially if you use your outdoor kitchen whenever possible. Why wouldn’t you? Cooking outside is a relaxing activity where you can relax with a big glass of ice water while the food cooks and the kids wear themselves out for bed playing in the yard.
Ready to find out exactly how an outdoor kitchen saves you energy costs? Continue reading below!
No Extra Lighting Necessary
When you cook outside you do not need to run any of the lights inside. Whereas cooking in the kitchen means you must run an overhead light, and possibly the light over the stove. While the savings are not enormous, not running these lights could save you around $30 throughout the year.
Use Wood or Gas Instead of Electricity
Outdoor kitchens often utilize wood or gas for appliances like the stove versus electric. Running the oven for an hour costs approximately 12 cents for modern ovens. An average meal will run an oven for one to two hours, which amounts to 365 to 730 hours per year if you cook only one meal at home per day. This means you can expect to save around $45 to $90 a year on energy costs.
Does not Raise Indoor Temperatures
When you run the oven or stove top you raise the temperature of your home which, in turn, means your air conditioning unit must work harder to maintain a stable temperature. This is the biggest way an outdoor kitchen can save you on energy costs, because this extra work could amount to anywhere between $20 and $50 every month. That is $240 to $600 a year.
Total Savings
The total savings generated per year by an outdoor kitchen can range anywhere from $315 to $720 a year. This number could prove to be significantly higher for those who cook more than one meal at home a day or who have older ovens requiring higher amounts of electricity.
Think about what you could potentially do with those savings. It could amount to extra money in your children’s college funds, or a large chunk of extra money towards your vacation fund. That money could go into an emergency savings account for future household repairs or large purchases like a new vehicle. It could even be as simple as extra Christmas money.
