If you’re annoyed by the current state of your kitchen and about to remodel, why don’t you consider going green? Sure, going green might seem somewhat expensive now, but in the long term, it is worth the price.
Making the right choices now is not only good for your pocket, but also for the planet, and we only have one after all. Louis Parish said that if you can organize your kitchen, you can organize your life, so why don’t we take a look at what you should do to make your kitchen and your life become green?
Flooring
When construction workers start building a house, they begin with the floor, and that’s exactly what you should do. Putting eco-friendly flooring in your kitchen is the first and probably the most important step in making it green. Once, the term eco-friendly evoked images of bland and boring materials, but that’s not the case anymore. Here’s what your floor should be made of:
- Cork
- Bamboo
- Linoleum
- Reclaimed hardwood
Freshen up your kitchen
The paint you choose for your kitchen should be durable to accommodate different temperature changes, but pick a paint that’s non-toxic (low-VOC). VOC stands for volatile organic compounds, and the federal government caps the VOC content in the paint at 250 grams per liter. Some manufacturers make products which contain 50 grams of VOC per liter, and those products will be perfect for you.
Of course, don’t forget to choose the color according to your kitchen size. Make it feel more spacious by choosing white, if it’s too big, go with a darker tone.
Choose to light carefully
Most kitchens get plenty of light during the day thanks to their big windows. If you have a kitchen like that, try putting some light-colored cabinets to maximize the effect. This way, you’ll avoid turning the lights on during the day, and you’ll save energy and money by doing that.
If your budget allows that, replace all old incandescent bulbs with LED lighting. These have numerous benefits including lower electricity bills and lower emission of greenhouse gasses.
Gas vs. electric
Choosing the right stove top is not easy. Natural gas is a fossil fuel, and electricity is cleaner than gas, but most of the electricity comes from the coal-burning plants anyway. As you can see, it doesn’t matter which type of stove you choose, what it matters is that it is energy efficient.
If we take a look from a strictly cooking perspective, the truth is that most cooks prefer cooking with gas because controlling temperatures is easier.
The most important thing about stoves, whether they’re using gas or electricity, is that they’re working properly and not wasting energy and heat. For example, ilve appliances are fantastic, but as all kitchen appliances, they need to be installed properly or repaired correctly if you want them to work as intended. Don’t try to repair or install appliances by yourself. Always hire experienced factory trained technicians to avoid any unnecessary headaches.
Clean your kitchen with green products
Fortunately, green products for cleaning are easy to find, you just need to start using them. A growing number of manufacturers offer plant-based and non-toxic products for cleaning, but you can make some of them yourself if you like being frugal. Combine basic products and create easy-to-use inexpensive alternatives which can be used instead of commercial products.
Salvage
Even a salvaged cabinet or a countertop will come alive in the kitchen, and it will make it look stylish at the same time. Using old, worn, and used materials is a must in green living, and you should exploit that fact.
Be an active recycler
Most manufacturers install recycling bins in lower kitchen cabinets, but you don’t have to buy a new cabinet if you want to start recycling right now. Just retrofit your old cabinet, and you’re good to go!
Save Water
Use a bowl for washing veggies – You can reduce the amount of water you’re using by filling a sink or the bowl before washing fruit or vegetables. Wash them in a bowl and use that water later to water your plants. Running faucets waste a large amount of water (15 liters per minute), and by doing this you’ll save water and your money.
Defrost smartly – Some people defrost their foods by running cold water over them, but you can easily defrost them by using a microwave oven or by putting foods in the refrigerator the day before.
Buy a dishwasher – The latest generation of dishwashers consumes less water and energy than older models. According to Treehugger, as long as you don’t often run your dishwasher when it’s only half full of dirty dishes, or unless you are very miserly with your water use (or have an old, inefficient dishwasher), the automatic dishwasher is likely to be more efficient than washing dishes by hand.