11 Manual Alternatives To Appliances And Gadgets If You Want To Lower Your Electricity Use

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The plethora of appliances and gadgets that are part of the modern home can make a big impact on your energy usage. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average U.S. household uses a significant portion of its energy on appliances, including 7% on refrigerators and freezers, 5% on washers and dryers, and 3% on other appliances. Heating and cooling costs also make up a big chunk of the average home's electricity bill, with HVAC systems being the household appliance that consumes the most energy. For many homeowners, lowering their overall electricity use is a priority to save on energy costs. Others are concerned about the environment and keep a close eye on their electricity use for that reason. 

If you are one of those homeowners, there are several strategies you can try to lower your household's electricity usage. One option is to keep your refrigerator and freezer at the recommended temperature (37 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit for refrigerators and 5 degrees Fahrenheit for freezers). Another tip is to start using manual alternatives to common appliances and gadgets. Keeping these manual options in your home can make it easier to avoid pulling out a powered option for every little task. However, switching to more manual options probably won't lower your electricity bill by a lot. Still, the total energy use of smaller appliances and gadgets can add up. Having an alternative choice can be good in the long run when it comes to overall home energy use.

People who do not can food may not realize how versatile a food mill can be. For example, the Hungry Artisan Ergonomic Stainless Steel Food Mill with 3 Milling Discs can be used to make tomato sauce, baby food, applesauce, jam, and more. Instead of grabbing your hand mixer to mash potatoes or your immersion blender to blend vegetables for soup, you can use a hand-operated food mill. With frequent use, blenders can require 125 to 250 watt-hours a day, which can add up over the years.

Instead of a cumbersome electric food processor, you can pick up a manual version to accomplish similar tasks without using electricity. A hand-operated food processor, like this Ourokhome Manual Food Processor, requires a little elbow grease to pull the string. However, it can be an alternative to a large electric chopping tool for little tasks like chopping vegetables or mincing garlic. This type of gadget also doesn't require switching out blades — you just pull the cord more times to chop food into finer pieces.

Reach for a traditional egg beater tool, like this OXO Good Grips Egg Beater, to beat eggs, batter, cream, and more. This tool uses a handle on the side to power the rotating whisks instead of electricity like a hand mixer. Plus, an egg beater is a quieter option that doesn't require you to plug in a cumbersome cord. One reviewer writes, "Use it all the time, instead of getting out my electric hand mixer." This OXO version features removable and washable parts that can be easier to clean than a hand mixer or large stand mixer.

For those who have lived in small spaces (like a college dorm) or have not had reliable access to a washing machine, the WonderWash Portable Washing Machine can be a space-saving solution compared to a traditional washer. This little machine uses no electricity. Instead, it is powered with a hand crank. With this small, 5-pound machine, you can stop using a big washing machine (and consuming more electricity) for frequent, small loads. The average washing machine in the U.S. costs about $14 a year to run, though a hand-cranked washer uses no electricity at all.

Folks who drink a lot of coffee, especially coffee connoisseurs, may appreciate a manual coffee grinder. Instead of a loud grinder that consumes electricity, a manual option like the TIMEMORE Chestnut C3S Pro Manual Coffee Grinder can do the job quietly. Many hand-operated grinders let you adjust the grind size for more precision. Although electric coffee grinders may not use a lot of energy day to day, their total energy use can add up over months and years.

You might want to pull out a hand-cranked grater instead of plugging in a machine the next time you need fresh cheese or shredded veggies. A non-electric option like this one helps you avoid using more electricity for certain cooking preparation. There are different types of manual graters, but some options like the Geedel Rotary Cheese Grater make the task straightforward. This style of hand-cranked grater comes with different attachments for thicker or finer shreds. You can also clean this style of grater from top to bottom, because there are no electric components.

With the right tool, you can press juice out of a variety of fruits and vegetables. But you do not necessarily need to have an electric-powered juicing appliance to accomplish this task. If you are trying to watch your overall electricity usage, a hand-operated juicer can get the job done. A sturdy manual juice press, like the Eurolux Professional Cast Iron Citrus Juicer, uses a heavy-duty lever to squeeze juice from citrus and other soft fruits. With a manual juicer, you can skip storing a bulky electric appliance.

An average vacuum cleaner, depending on the type and power, can use 200 to 1,200 watts. But by running a manual carpet sweeper along your floor, you can pick up a lot of annoying debris and little particles without using electricity. Tools like the BISSELL Refresh Carpet and Floor Manual Sweeper can take the place of a regular upright vacuum for quick cleanups. One reviewer says it's "very convenient and takes the place of pulling the vacuum out for smaller jobs around the house." A manual sweeper is also lightweight compared to many corded upright vacuums and doesn't make the same racket.

For some, butter churners might be a decades-old household staple that no one uses anymore, but for others it is a money-saving tool. Churning your own butter out of fresh cream can potentially save you money on buying butter. But instead of using a mixer and wasting electricity, you can make it the old-fashioned way with a hand-cranked butter churner like this Kilner Small Manual Butter Churner. This style of butter churner takes about 10 to 15 minutes of continuous cranking to create fresh butter, according to one reviewer, but some versions may take over 30 minutes.

A manual alternative to an electric lamp can be useful at times other than emergencies. A solar lantern like the Dynamo Hand Crank Solar Powered Lantern can also be hand-cranked for extra power. Even if you've already switched to energy-saving LED bulbs, a solar lantern can be a way to avoid turning on a larger, electric-powered light to go to the bathroom at night or read after it gets dark. One user appreciates the versatility of this lantern's power supply, saying, "THIS is a wonderful lantern. I can charge it in many different ways."

With a manual, crank-operated peeler, you can save electricity compared to a gadget that you need to plug in, recharge, or add batteries to. A rotary peeler can be a good option for someone who uses a lot of potatoes in their cooking or spends time peeling many apples or other fruit for their baked goods. It can save you time compared to a handheld peeler, without using any electricity. The Starfrit Rotato Manual Peeler is one option, with a reviewer sharing, "I like that it's not electric and can be used anywhere."