Ways to Be Green in the Kitchen
The tips on being greener in your kitchen include things you can do right away for very little money as well as things that you would consider if remodeling. My favorite tip in this guest article is the last one, about creating a way to recycle more easily in the kitchen. — Zana
Ways to Be Green in the Kitchen
Living in today’s economy, everyone wants to save money. Saving on energy costs can be a large chunk of change when planning a budget-not to mention it can save our earth! Although building green can save money in the long run and over time, it can be more costly in the building process than standard construction. And although green products are more expensive than standard products, they are becoming more affordable. The kitchen is typically the most used room in the house, so let’s start conserving energy where we use the most energy.
Use less water.
One way to be greener in the kitchen is by using less water. Low-flow faucets are available that will limited water pressure which will cut down on unnecessary water consumption. We are all familiar with the automatic faucets in public restrooms. There are similar products for homes that will only turn on when hands are under the sensor. Options for water-saving faucets include self-closing faucets, metered valve faucets, sensor faucets, and more.
Manufacturers that are offering WaterSense-certified faucets include Delta, Moen, American Standard, Brizo and Symmons. These manufacturers are meeting the water-saving standards by using special aerators that deliver more airflow so the lower water flow is not noticeable.
Use the classic work triangle.
The work triangle has been around for years. It is a formula that lays out the refrigerator, stove and sink within a triangle that creates an efficient work flow. In a kitchen plan, each side of the triangle should be between 4 and 9 feet. The total of all the sides should be between 12 and 26 feet. This ensures ease of motion between the stove, the sink and the refrigerator, which in turn can be more eco-friendly. For example, while cooking, you should be able to pull food from the refrigerator, place it on the counter and turn to the stove and sink very easily without obstructions. This will most likely mean you will have the refrigerator door open for a short amount of time. Also, the stove should be far enough from the refrigerator so the heat from the stove does not cause the refrigerator to work harder.
Buy ENERGY STAR appliances.
Energy efficient appliances can save a homeowner about one third of their energy bill. When shopping for appliances look for the ENERGY STAR label and know that all ENERGY STAR products have met strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).
Add a recycling station.
We always seem to designate a place in the kitchen for our trash can, but why not use some kitchen space to recycle? All it takes is one or two 10-gallon trash cans to cut down on the amount of trash that will end up at the landfill. Be creative in what containers you use to sort your recycling. Many retailers sell multiple shapes and sizes in recycling bins. You’ll be amazed at how much longer you can go without taking out the trash!
So there you have it… 4 ways to be greener in the kitchen. I imagine if everyone does what they can to conserve energy the earth will be a much better place for generations to come.
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Here are a few more “green” ideas, that look at big picture issues:
1. eat more raw food (better for you, and doesn’t requre energy to prepare).
2. Use water from the tap to drink. Water bottles clog the landfill. Ask your local utility about the water safety measures in your community, you may find it safter than bottled or equivalent.
3. Keep your root veggies out of the frig (put in a dark, cold place (remember hearing about root cellars?) They will last a long time.
4. Go to local farmer’s markets for food, go on your bike. AND eat what you buy. Sounds simple, buy many americans throw out about 40% of what they purchase.
5. Along with buying Energy Star, buy smaller appliances. Use manual tools like can openers, paring knives, even hand coffee grinders!
6. Drink room temperature water! Saves on chilling and ice cubes, and doesn’t use up space in the frig.
7. Buy dry goods in bulk (less packages and less trips to the store)
8. Turn out the lights when you are done in the kitchen. Unplug appliances you don’t use and put away.
9. With clearer, cleaner counters you may want to stay home more to eat. Wouldn’t that be a money, time and energy saver!