LCEC – Lee County Electric Cooperative

Don’t be an Energy Turkey This Thanksgiving

Preparing Thanksgiving dinner can be quite a juggling act. From dicing and slicing to the basting and baking, you focus on making sure every delicious detail is attended to. One detail that is often overlooked is the amount of energy that you can save by following a few simple tips. While you cook this year, LCEC recommends the following energy-saving tips:

–Keep your oven door shut: We all love to sneak peeks in the oven. This year, resist the urge by using your oven light. Remember, every time you open that oven, the temperature drops by 25 to 30 degrees (in addition to raising the temperature in your kitchen).
–Fill the oven: Plan to cook multiple things at once. By utilizing all of the space in your oven, you cut down on the time that your oven has to be on.
–Make friends with your microwave: While the big dishes bake in the oven, utilize your microwave for smaller items. A microwave uses up to 30 percent less energy than a conventional oven.
–Choose your burners and lids wisely: A lot of energy can be lost by using small pots on big burners. Arrange your pots so that they match with the burner size. In addition, be smart when placing lids on pots and pans. The tighter the cover, the better.
–Turn off the oven before show time: When your feast is almost finished cooking, turn off the oven and burners to save electricity.
–Use a cooler: Rather than opening your refrigerator over and over to get out drinks and other cold items, utilize a cooler.

Happy Thanksgiving from LCEC!