Eco friendly kitchen is one that is better for your health, easier on the environment and is energy efficient. It improves the value of your home when your workspace is neat windows or under skylights as it saves a lot of power. As kitchen is the heart of the home, it needs special attention, particularly if you want it to be efficient and beneficial. Upgrading your kitchen to an Eco friendly place need not be a costly affair as long as you have a well planned budget. There are various alternative ways in which your kitchen can be upgraded. This is by using water saving faucets, energy saving appliances, Eco friendly lighting and energy efficient windows. Here are a few tips on making your kitchen into an Eco friendly heart of the home.
1. Natural light and ventilation
Using natural light by working near a window or under a skylight reduces wastage of electricity consumption. When light is required, go in for LED or CFL bulbs which use less power. Installing exhaust fans to exhume stale air will increase the flow of fresh air in the kitchen.
2. Energy saving monitor
This monitor gives you feedback on the energy level consumed and alerts you on the energy expenditure. Installing this will keep you aware of the expenditure and will change your energy using habits as well.
3. Energy efficient appliances
Using energy efficient appliances like ovens, stoves, refrigerators and freezers greatly reduces energy consumption. By adopting efficient technology, there will be a marked improvement in energy efficiency.
4. Cookware and cooking time
Keep energy consumption in mind while buying cookware. Even if they are expensive, it is better to buy good quality stainless steel or cast iron cookware as these cooks faster and consumes less energy. Multitask your chore while cooking by cutting up vegetables while one dish is being cooked. You can slice up your vegetables into tiny pieces so can they cook faster. You can cook at one time rather than doing one dish after the other as this will consume less fuel energy.
5. Go green
Separate your recyclable and non-recyclable wastes in the kitchen. Instead of washing vegetables under running tap water, wash them in a tub to save water and use that for plants. Invest in a water purifier rather than buying bottled water. Use less toxic cleaning agents for the dishes and always segregate your kitchen wast at source. If you have no use for compost, you can always give to your neighbors or clubs who may have use of compost.
6. Know your thermal units
Use thermal units which do not allow for too much energy consumption. BTU or British thermal units measures the amount of heat generated in ovens and gas cook tops. There are a number of surface and burner options for electricity and gas cook tops. When the BTU capacity is high, the oven or cook top can be made to become very hot. Cook on medium or low heat so that there is no unnecessary wastage of fuel energy, as food can not be cooked faster just because it is on the maximum heat level.
