Follow-up on electricity guzzlers

[rebeccmeister]

earthlingmike just pointed out this website on electricity use by appliances. There's a nice summary table towards the bottom that describes average electricity use by appliances that are electricity hogs. I have been enjoying all of the comments that ya'll are making on the subject, too. It's nice to find support for my lifestyle because I don't get that kind of support from many (but not all) of the people around me every day.

It's making me wonder something--I use an electric toaster oven to toast crumpets in the morning. As an alternative, I could use a gas (full-size) oven. I'd like to think that the electric toaster oven is the way to go, but I'm not sure which is the better option.

And just in general, this makes me wonder whether electric ovens or gas ovens have a lower overall environmental impact.

Hmm.

Comments

[earthlingmike.livejournal.com]

In the U.S. like half our electricity comes from coal and most of the rest from gas. I'd think the toaster over creates less heat and therefore is using less energy. But I don't know how efficient the process is for getting that electricity to your toaster and converting it to heat, I suppose it's possible that the oven is actually more efficient since it's more direct.

Gas vs. Electric for cooking

[michaelbluejay.livejournal.com]

Why don't you see what that site you linked to has to say about gas vs. electric for cooking?

Re: Gas vs. Electric for cooking

[rebeccmeister.livejournal.com]

Now that would be the smart, logical thing to do, now wouldn't it?

I came across your site a year or two ago when visiting Austin and forgot about it until earthlingmike pointed it out again--it's fantastic! Thanks for putting together so much useful information.

Re: Gas vs. Electric for cooking

[crume.livejournal.com]

But Solar (which you can put together with a chintzy old-pot painted black with a lid, in a plastic bag, with cardboard & tinfoil reflectors) is much cheaper! You can also use any crock pot recipe you'd like for it. They only drawback I've heard is that you can't back cookies very well. (And you have to set up the cooker in the morning).