If you want your kitchen to be a green zone, there are several methods you can adopt to help preserve the environment. It turns out that most items in your kitchen can be cleaned with baking soda, vinegar, and lemons. You only need to look at the cleaners on celebrity home makeover shows to see that when they clean, they use all three of these items.
“Ready-to-use” cleaning products have all sorts of hazard warnings. That should be a sign that it’s not good for your kitchen or the environment.
One of the most important elements when trying to create a greener kitchen is to think before you throw away. When you casually throw leftovers, try to think of what else they could be used for. Many households use vegetable scraps for compost or to use in vegetable stock. By doing this food waste can be reduced and this is a great start to making your kitchen greener.
If possible, try to choose some low energy light bulbs. They often cost a little more, but last longer. This is a great solution for anyone with a ‘green’ mindset.
It may seem very obvious but recycle, recycle, recycle! Boxes, plastic and bottles can be left at the local recycling plant. If you want to go one step further, think about remodeling your kitchen and use recycled materials. These can include reclaimed wood, stone, and even paper! Many materials come in many beautiful designs, some are even as good as high-end modern kitchens. So, it’s worth checking out.
Lastly, have a keen eye when looking for kitchen appliances. Look for the Energy Star symbol; this identifies products that are more energy efficient (typically more than 10-20 percent better). Also try convection cookers as they cook faster (obviously this has the advantage of getting dinner on the table faster and it’s also eco-friendly).
Whether you’re making small changes or completely changing your lifestyle to adapt to greener methods, every step is positive. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you can only handle one or two of the tips written here on the page; they are just suggestions. If everyone implemented one of these, we would be a much “greener” nation! The environment will thank you and your new lifestyle can have a positive impact on many generations to come!