Going Green in the Kitchen
Visit Home PageExcerpt from Going Green in the Kitchen
By Maxine Glass, Recipe4Living.com
Thinking of remodeling your kitchen? Then take a moment to think about the environment too, because they go hand in hand. And while thinking large-scale is important, sometime it’s hard to start small. The kitchen is the center of energy usage in an average home - not to mention it’s often a place where people congregate. Whether you’re looking for more energy-efficient appliances or you want to use renewable resources in your home, these are simple ways to get started.
If you’re thinking about redecorating your kitchen, there are some renewable, eco-friendly resources you should be introduced to before making any decisions.
Recycled Glass
Simply another way to reduce the amount waste on this planet, recycled glass has many purposes in your kitchen and home. Some artists and glass companies use recycled glass to make plates, bowls, cups and other kitchen necessities.
Appliances
Think about the number of appliances you have running in the kitchen on any given night. Microwave, toaster oven, refrigerator, freezer, stove, dishwasher. That’s a whole lot of energy. If you haven’t replaced your kitchen appliances in a while, many companies have changed their policies and the overall makeup of appliances to make them more energy efficient.
Energy Star Logo
When shopping for new kitchen appliances, look for the Energy Star approval. According to their website, buying an Energy Star dishwasher will save you more than $30 a year since it uses less water than conventional dishwashers and uses 41 percent less energy. A new refrigerator or freezer with Energy Star approval uses 10 to 15 percent less energy than government requirements. This is 40 percent less energy than models from 2001. Before you buy, check out the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy with advice and reviews from professionals and other Green Home aspirers.
Living a green lifestyle is about incorporating all aspects of your life into an eco-friendly, energy-efficient, good-to-the-earth way of life. And though it sounds like a mouthful and you may think it’s more trouble than it’s worth, just think of something as simple as a breath of fresh air.
That breath of fresh air may be jeopardized if we don’t take better care of this planet. And why not start with your kitchen?
See: Air and Water Quality See: Kitchen Gifts
October 23rd, 2008 at 7:40 am
Nice article, and very true. The appliances are electrci and gas sapping more than people would think, and finally manufacturers seem to be making more efficient appliances.
October 26th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
[...] Going Green in the Kitchen According to their website, buying an Energy Star dishwasher will save you more than $30 a year since it uses less water than conventional dishwashers and uses 41 percent less energy. A new refrigerator or freezer with Energy Star … [...]
December 29th, 2008 at 5:10 am
[...] Going Green in the Kitchen | Village Green Gifts [...]