You are not the only one who consumes food in the kitchen. Kitchens are one of the hungriest rooms in the house in terms of energy use. Kitchen appliances - including refrigerators, freezers, ranges and dishwashers - account for about 27 percent of household energy use, according to taunton.com. Refrigerators and freezers account for nearly two-thirds of kitchen energy use.

Here are some tips for remodeling your kitchen into a "smart" kitchen that can save you money and resources.

Refrigerators/Freezers

Look for:

• The Energy Star Label. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency confers these models are 15 percent more energy efficient than the federal minimum.
• Freezers on top or bottom. Side-by-side refrigerators use more energy.
• Manual defrost cycles.
• Door alarms. Some manufacturers offer an alarm that will sound if the fridge door is left open.

Cooktops and Ovens

•  Induction: an induction technology is back with more high-end cooktops. Efficiency is the highest of any cooktop because the cookware is heated directly.
• Radiant ceramic: the most common mid-to-high-end electric cooktop today, it has relatively fast-heating radiant elements under ceramic glass, providing a sleek, easy-to-clean stovetop surface.
• Electric coil: available on low-cost ranges and cooktops, these old-fashioned open-coil elements are slow to heat up and difficult to clean, but efficient at transferring energy to the pot.
• Gas: cooks prefer gas burners for speed and controllability but gas cooktops rate worst in terms of energy efficiency. Gas cooktops use only about 40 percent of the energy produced. 

Dishwashers

Look for:

• The Energy Star Label. Energy-star qualified dishwashers are at least 41 percent more energy efficient than the federal minimum.
• Soil sensing. This technology determines how dirty the dishes are. Water use and wash cycle adjust accordingly, saving significant water and energy.
• No-heat drying. Make sure you buy a dishwasher with a no-heat drying option, which can save a significant amount of energy.