Use task lighting directed at a specific area instead of overhead or general lighting. Cooking Use pots and pans with flat bottoms the same size as the burners. This prevents heat from escaping. Covered pots or pans will boil or steam faster, allowing for lower temperature settings. Turn off the surface element or oven a few minutes before cooking time is up.
Electric stoves stay hot for a few minutes after they're turned off.
On a surface unit, start with high heat and lower the setting when the food starts to bubble or boil. Make sure reflector pans beneath the stove's heating elements are bright and clean. They reflect heat onto the bottom of the cookware. For cooking, use small appliances like a toaster oven or electric skillet. On average, they use half the energy of a full-size oven.