5 Super Easy Ways to Go Green in Your Kitchen

 A kitchen can leave a big carbon footprint since it generates the most waste in your home. There are many ways to go green in your kitchen, from using energy-efficient appliances to upgrading the electricity. In addition, your energy bills will be lower with an eco-friendly kitchen. So, here are 5 super easy ways to go green in your kitchen.

 

1.    Bring Your Own Bag

 

It’s important to remember to bring your own bag whenever you’re grocery shopping. Carrying your own vegetable bags will reduce single-use plastic bag use. Store your produce in your own vegetable bags that will keep them last longer. Pack groceries in your own bags that can be used over and over again. If you end up having a plastic bag, make sure to reuse it. You can use it next time you grocery shop, store food, use it as a garbage bag, or store old clothes.

 

2.    Upgrade To a Power Strip

 

Even though our home appliances are not in use, they still use energy if plugged in. So, a power strip lets you turn off gadgets all at once when you’re leaving your home. This is a great benefit of an eco-friendly home. Turning off different appliances is so easy when they’re connected to one switch. This way you will save money on energy bills and not waste energy.

 

3.    Energy-Efficient Appliances

 

To use less energy and have lower electricity bills, start using energy-efficient appliances in your kitchen and the whole house. You can start by using energy-efficient lighting that uses around 25%-80% less energy than incandescent bulbs. Just by switching to energy-efficient lightbulbs in your whole house, you can save about $75 a year.

In addition, older kitchen appliances use a lot more energy than new ones. For example, older dishwashing machines use more water per cycle than new ones. Upgrade your kitchen appliances to energy-efficient models to save money on bills and lower energy use. When shopping for new kitchen appliances, make sure to look for the Energy Star rating to save water and energy. This can apply to the stove, freezer, refrigerator, dishwasher, etc. Also, if you’re replacing your old fridge with a new one, be sure to sell it or donate it to someone rather than throwing it away.

 

4.    Use Stove Correctly

 

Did you know you can waste energy if not using the stove the right way? Well, when you’re cooking, make sure to use a pot that fits the burner and avoid wasting energy. A pot that’s smaller than a burner can waste more than 40% of heat from the stove. Also, always use a lid when cooking since cooking without a lid can use up to 3 times more energy than it should.

Another way to go green in your kitchen is to use electric stoves rather than gas ones. Gas stoves can emit up to 39% more nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide into the air. However, if you already have a gas stove, remember that the lower the stove’s BTU output is, the more energy-efficient and green your stove is.

 

5.    Reduce Waste

 

Going green also means reducing waste. When you grocery shop, look for the least amount of packaging and try to find a recycled label on them. Also, reduce waste by replacing paper towels with kitchen cloths or reusable kitchen towels made from cellulose. These kitchen towels can be easily rinsed and used over and over again.

 

When you start implementing these 5 super easy ways of going green in your kitchen, you will be surprised how much energy you’ll save. Start with the kitchen and then slowly move into different rooms of your house to live in a green and healthy home.