Ways to go green in the kitchen

Living in today’s economy, everyone wants to save money. Saving on energy costs can be a big change when planning a budget, not to mention it can save our earth! Although green building can save money in the long run and over time, it can be more expensive in the construction process than standard construction. And while green products are more expensive than standard products, they are becoming more affordable. The kitchen is typically the most used room in the house, so let’s start conserving energy where we use the most energy.

Use less water.
One way to be greener in the kitchen is to use less water. Low flow faucets are available that will limit the water pressure, reducing unnecessary water consumption. We are all familiar with automatic faucets in public toilets. There are similar household products that only turn on when the hands are under the sensor. Options for water-saving faucets include self-closing faucets, metering valve faucets, sensor faucets, and more.
Manufacturers offering WaterSense certified faucets include Delta, Moen, American Standard, Brizo, and Symmons. These manufacturers are meeting water saving standards by using special aerators that deliver more airflow so that the lower water flow is not noticeable.

Use the classic work triangle.
The work triangle has been around for years. It is a formula that places the refrigerator, stove, and sink within a triangle that creates an efficient workflow. On a kitchen plan, each side of the triangle should be between 4 and 9 feet. The total of all sides must be between 12 and 26 feet. This ensures ease of movement between the stove, sink, and refrigerator, which in turn can be more environmentally friendly. For example, while cooking, you should be able to take food out of the refrigerator, place it on the counter, and swing onto the stove and sink very easily without obstructions. This most likely means that you will have the refrigerator door open for a short period of time. Also, the stove should be far enough away from the refrigerator so that the heat from the stove does not make the refrigerator work harder.

Shop for ENERGY STAR appliances.
Energy-efficient appliances can save a homeowner about a third of their energy bill. When shopping for home appliances look for the ENERGY STAR label and know that all ENERGY STAR products meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).

Add a recycling station.
We always seem to designate a place in the kitchen for our trash can, but why not use a little space in the kitchen for recycling? All that is needed is one or two 10 gallon trash cans to reduce the amount of trash that will end up in the landfill. Get creative in the bins you use to sort your recycling. Many retailers sell multiple shapes and sizes in recycling bins. You will be surprised how long you can go without taking out the trash!

So there you have it … 4 ways to be greener in the kitchen. I imagine that if everyone does what they can to conserve energy, the earth will be a much better place for generations to come.