Energy Star boasts that
microwaves can
save energy
by up to 80 percent during cooking. So when summer temperatures may
border on feverish, consider microwaving food or using that outdoor grill to prepare
a hearty, tasty meal without heating the house.
Microwaves are more efficient than
ovens
because food cooks faster and only the food, not the entire space, is heated.
(Plus, microwaves use a magnetron and thus could transform into a benevolent robot
anytime.) Since using a microwave doesn't produce the excess heat a stove or oven would,
it lowers the need for
air conditioning.
Curious about
green grilling? The Daily Green says
electric grills burn the cleanest,
followed by propane and natural gas—any of which can cook more efficiently and provide
better air quality than grilling with charcoal or wood. And skip the lighter fluid
if you can,
advises Treehugger;
it releases volatile organic compounds (
VOCs) into the air.
Whether you nuke something in the microwave or give it the smoky flavor of the grill,
you can save energy on both cooking and air conditioning by skipping the oven.