Green Your Kitchen

Eating green and shopping green are essential for the environment, however, the preparation of locally sourced food that comes from your reusable totes should be accounted for as well. It is very important to have environmentally friendly kitchen habits, and we are here to help!

The kitchen is one of the most used areas of the home, and as an area of consumption and gathering, waste, energy use, and chemical use are unavoidable facets of the kitchen space. Energy efficient food preparation and cleaning habits, avoiding harmful cleaning chemicals, and recycling and reducing are extremely important measures that you should put in place to reduce the environmental impact of your kitchen.

Here are some tips to green your kitchen:

1. Invest in energy efficiency: If you are in need of new kitchen appliances, such as a refrigerator, oven, or dishwasher, be sure to buy one that is Energy Star rated or has a high energy efficiency rating. Energy efficient appliances can save you hundreds of dollars throughout their lifetimes, and reduce energy usage by up to 25%.
2. Buy produce with no or little packaging to prevent excessive trash and recycling: Although plastic and paper containers not contaminated by food can be recycled, it is best to avoid packaging at all and buying in bulk or using your reusable grocery and produce bags.
3. Use an electric stove: This is a simple tip since we all know that gas contributes greenhouse gases when it is combusted. Electric stoves use much less fossil fuels and, depending on where your electricity is generated, could be powered by renewable energy!
4. Purchase cooking utensils with their lifespans in mind: Instead of buying utensils made out of plastic or cheap metals, invest in stainless steel, cast iron, and high quality knives and other utensils that will last for years.
5. Purge your cleaning cabinet: In most households, common cleaning products used are also highly toxic for the environment. After cleaning liquids flow down the drains, they are treated with sewage and other waste products, then discharged into surrounding waterways. Most cleaning products break down into harmless substances, however, disinfectants in particular do not break down themselves rather they break down the wildlife they come in contact with. Do good for the environment by purchasing eco-friendly cleaners such as Method, Seventh Generation, and Mrs. Meyer’s. These products are made using sustainable manufacturing practices and naturally derived, safe, non-toxic, and biodegradable ingredients.

As one of the most used places, the kitchen has endless opportunities for environmental improvement and it all begins when you turn on the stove, wipe down the countertop, or browse the grocery store shelves.