I try to mostly cook on the firepit in summer (we have a schwenker) but mostly for keeping the house from getting hot. This past summer we didn't run the air conditioning at all to cut the electric use. I kept the kiddie pool on the deck for the kids and it was a tremendous help to have freezing cold well water. It never gets too bad in the yard because we have lots of shade.My family doesn’t buy eggs, and save egg cartons. We also cook on our wood stove in the winter to save fuel and money.