5 Easy Ways To Be Green In Your Kitchen
Having eco-friendly kitchen habits isn’t just limited to eating green. You have to be mindful and energy-efficient every step of the way right from cleaning habits and food preparation to using sustainable materials and steering clear of toxic chemicals. True kitchen efficiency can be achieved only when small inefficient details are taken into account and worked upon to instigate healthy and green habits. Making the right choices will be good both for you and the planet.
On the whole, your entire home’s energy-efficiency also counts for a lot. For this, you can resort to air source heat pump installation and other renewable heating options. But for now, let’s concentrate on how we can make our kitchen more sustainable.
In this piece, we have put together 5 simple and straightforward ways to establish a green and eco-friendly kitchen. What’s more, most of these tips are inexpensive and easy to implement so you can start being green right away!
Let’s take a look!
- Reconsider the Fittings, Furniture and Finishes
When shopping for new flooring, cabinets, furniture or counters, look for eco-friendly options. Purchase popular options for a green kitchen made out of recycled timber, cork, bamboo and wood with FSC certification. You can also add elegant designs available in ceramic and glass tiles and pair it up with sustainable wood flooring. Consider buying pre-owned furniture for your dining space along with other elements to elevate the aesthetic appeal of your kitchen area. With such options, you will add a pop of colour in your kitchen space while being environmentally-friendly.
- Choose Non-Toxic Cleaners and Paints
Usually, our kitchens are filled with products that emanate toxic fumes and the main reason for this can be found under the kitchen sink. There’s a huge range of low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints available today. So you can integrate green aspects in your kitchen design without compromising on visual appeal. Purchase cleaning products that are eco-friendly or you can DIY it using natural elements readily available in your kitchen like baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice.
- Installing LED Lights
Ideally, your kitchen design should be such that it receives plenty of natural light. This will eliminate the dark spots and you won’t have to switch on the lights, at least during the day. Sensor or task-oriented lights also help consume less energy as they specifically light up the areas where you are working. Moreover, you should install LED lighting in the key workspaces like the counter, cooking space and sink. LED lights are highly efficient when compared to incandescent bulbs as they make your kitchen space appear brighter. You can opt for cabinets and workspaces in lighter shades for added brightness.
- Give Your Old Appliances an Upgrade
Outdated and old appliances consume a considerable amount of energy which is why it is best to switch to their efficient counterparts. When you crunch the numbers, you will see that by switching to energy-efficient appliances you are doing both yourself and the environment a favour. Be sure to check the energy ratings before you purchase dishwashers, fridges, washing machines, ovens and other appliances. Do your research about the appliance’s quality and durability. Premium appliances are designed to be high on energy-efficiency and they also tend to last longer than the cheaper inefficient ones. Upgrade in kitchen appliances will pave way for less wastage and higher savings in the long run.
- Have a Recycling Mindset
One of the best and most important ways of being green and sustainable in your kitchen is to recycle items. Place recycling bins in your kitchen area and ask everyone to separate recyclable materials and food waste. This will help reduce the waste that’s dumped in the landfills. Make sure that all recyclable items like plastic bottles, glass and packaging materials are placed in the proper dedicated bin. As far as food waste and kitchen scrap are concerned, you can maintain a separate container for composting. If you are into gardening, a composter will be handy as it can fertilise your plants and flowers at extremely low costs. Additionally, you can also donate the compost to a garden centre in your vicinity.
For a clean, green and efficient kitchen, proper planning and design are integral. Many homeowners tend to make mistakes with their kitchen remodelling that makes it highly energy-inefficient not to mention unhealthy and wasteful as well. Click here to get in touch with kitchen installers and designers who will help you bring you dream and efficient kitchen to life!
And while you are at it, make sure to make eco-friendly habits an inseparable part of your lifestyle!
Author Bio: Uzma is a big fan of ‘all things nature’. She loves to write about green hacks, business and marketing. On most days you’ll find her curled up with a book and a hot cup of tea! You can follow her on twitter!
