Manual Kitchen Tools and Household Gadgets That Can Help Cut Electricity Use

Manual alternatives to electric kitchen appliances and gadgets, Digi Mart USA News: A publisher article reports that the many appliances and gadgets in modern homes can significantly affect household energy use. Citing the U.S.

Energy Information Administration, it says the average U.S. household spends a notable share of its energy on appliances, including about 7% on refrigerators and freezers, 5% on washers and dryers, and 3% on other appliances, while heating and cooling systems account for a large portion of the electricity bill.

The article suggests several ways homeowners can reduce electricity use, including keeping refrigerators at 37 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit and freezers at 5 degrees Fahrenheit, and using manual options for everyday tasks. It notes that switching to manual tools probably will not sharply lower a monthly bill, but that the combined use of smaller appliances can add up over time.

Examples cited include a hand-operated food mill for sauces, applesauce and baby food, and manual food processors for chopping vegetables or mincing garlic. The report also points to traditional hand-operated egg beaters, which the article describes as quieter than electric hand mixers.

It says frequent blender use can require 125 to 250 watt-hours a day.

Other examples include a hand-cranked portable washing machine for small loads, which the article says uses no electricity, compared with an average U.S. washing machine costing about $14 a year to run.

Manual coffee grinders, hand-cranked graters, manual citrus juicers, and manual carpet sweepers are also presented as alternatives for tasks that might otherwise use electric appliances. The article notes that a typical vacuum cleaner can use 200 to 1,200 watts.

The report also mentions hand-cranked butter churners, which can take about 10 to 15 minutes of continuous cranking according to one reviewer, and solar lanterns that can be hand-cranked for extra power. It further describes manual rotary peelers as a way to avoid electricity, batteries or charging.

The article is based on a publisher report and was not independently verified.