By Nora Lopez 2013 February 4
Brrrr … It’s cold! I want to eat things that warm up my belly once I get home from work. But my schedule is pretty hectic. I am lucky, I only work 10 minutes from the office, but when I get home it is around 5:30 pm and I usually cook a real meal every night as we are not into picking up food on the way home… there is nothing like a home cooked meal! However, I do need to be out of the house by 6:30 pm to go to the gym, every night … a commitment I set for myself once the kids were out of the house 
Dinner needs to be ready in one hour….oh and by the way, I just started a Paleo diet this week (if you do not know what it is Google it… and it will open your eyes to a new way of cooking!).
Dinner needs to be ready in one hour….oh and by the way, I just started a Paleo diet this week (if you do not know what it is Google it… and it will open your eyes to a new way of cooking!).
So what does my ordeal have anything to do with cooking and being green? Let me introduce you to my solution to the rat race: The CROCKPOT! I just put it on early in the morning, before I leave to go to work, and when I come in I have a meal ready, add a salad and voila! Yummy food I am so much into it that I was trying to convince my sister to get one, but she was very hesitant … she lives in Puerto Rico and electricity is extremely expensive there. So she was concerned that having a Crockpot on all day would increase her electric bill.
I am so much into it that I was trying to convince my sister to get one, but she was very hesitant … she lives in Puerto Rico and electricity is extremely expensive there. So she was concerned that having a Crockpot on all day would increase her electric bill.
So the scientist in me was turned on and went digging for information on the energy efficiency of this pot. What I found was great information that says that it depends on your stove and type of fuel. The following table I found the most helpful because it was simple to understand. Obviously you need to adjust per your watt costs, but it gives you an idea of the energy consumption:
What I also found is that there are so many web sites for people who are concerned about the energy consumption issue; what is better or not; weighing the pros and cons, that it really made me feel good that so many people think about how our behavior can influence how we can save in energy resources.
As for my sister, once she saw all the information I gathered on how she would be saving money in electrical … she ran to the department store and got an energy-efficient Crockpot and she invited me over to delicious pulled pork the next time I was in Puerto Rico.
My first convert! …. Anyone else?
About the Author: Nora works out of EPA’s Edison, New Jersey facility, where she manages the Region’s Toxics Release Inventory Program. After work she can often be found channeling her inner chef.
