Many of us are becoming more earth-conscious by the day. Of course, it is necessary to make a few lifestyle changes in order to leave a smaller carbon footprint. The kitchen is the most visited room in the house and contains appliances in constant use.
It makes sense to concentrate on turning this room “green” before upgrading any other room with eco-friendly materials.
The common misconception of becoming an eco-friendly household is it is costly. That can be true, if your first step towards living a sustainable lifestyle is installing solar powered panels, which is expensive. However, that’s not where we are concentrating our focus today.
We are looking at ways to “Go Green” in the kitchen without it costing more than simply changing your habits.
1. Recycle
This is a no-brainer. If you are not recycling, then make a conscious effort to change your habits. Recycling plastic, glass, and paper used in a household can and does make a difference. Don’t forget to take your reusable bags to the grocery store with you. Take a look at a few staggering statistics to help motivate recycling.
“It takes close to 700 years for plastic bottles to decompose in a landfill”
“Glass is a product material that never decomposes”
“Recycling 14 trees worth of paper reduces air pollutants by 165,142 tons”
2. Stop Using Toxic Cleaners
An easy way to be more earth-friendly in your kitchen is to use natural cleaners over chemical cleansers. The kitchen has to be cleaned multiple times a day. Wiping down the microwave, countertops, the stovetop, and more is a part of the daily routine. Instead of purchasing anti-bacterial wipes and all-purpose surface cleaners, change to a natural solution and washable rags.
Quick Natural All-Purpose Solution: ½ cup of White Distilled Vinegar, ¼ cup of Baking Soda, ½ Gallon of Water, Mix well and keep in Sprayer
3. Substitute Light Bulbs
Energy-efficient light bulbs are readily available for purchase at just about any retail store. You also have the option of installing light dimmers, which helps save on energy.
*“Energy Star Light Bulbs uses 75% less energy than a traditional incandescent bulb”
4. Manage Appliance Usage
If you have the budget, you can upgrade to Energy Star labeled appliances to save on utility costs. If you don’t there are ways to conserve energy with these appliances. You want to run the dishwasher only on a full load.
Don’t keep the water running while doing dishes, unplug the toaster, coffee pot, and microwave when not in use.
For more kitchen and bathroom tips, you can find our archived blogs here.
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