7 ways to "green" your kitchen

(reposted from pgeverydaysolutions.com)


Becoming ecologically friendly may seem like a daunting task, but it’s much easier than you may think. Check out these seven simple ways to put an environmentally friendly spin on your life — starting in your kitchen!

1. Make recycling convenient. Create a space for tossing recyclables inside your kitchen. For example, put a recycling bin on the floor of your pantry. The more convenient it is to recycle, the more likely it is that everyone in the family will do it consistently. Post a little sign above the bin explaining which numbers of plastics your city collects so even young children can participate.

2. Consider a kitchen compost bin. Would you compost if it were easy and convenient? Create a compost canister in your kitchen to make it easy to hold leftover scraps until you empty them to an outdoor bin. Composting saves food from needlessly taking up space in landfills and turns it into useful, rich fertilizer. Find a space under your sink to store an open-topped plastic container. No special purchase is necessary; any plastic container will do.

3. Cook smarter. Here are some ways to conserve energy when cooking. Don’t preheat the oven unless you’re cooking something that needs to have a hot oven at the start, such as baked goods. On the stove, match the burner size to the pan size, and use a lid to keep the heat in. When baking, use glass or ceramic baking pans to conserve energy. These warm up faster and retain heat longer than metal, so you can lower the oven temperature by 25 degrees — which will save you energy and money.

4. Watch your water usage. Only run the dishwasher with full loads. Try using the water-saver setting if the dishes aren’t unusually dirty. If you’re replacing your faucet, look for a model that uses less than 2.2 gallons per minute. These water-efficient faucets save a lot of water without any noticeable decrease in flow or pressure. For an existing faucet, you can buy an easy-to-attach aerator for a couple of dollars at the hardware store. These save water while still providing plenty of flow.

5. Don’t dump fats down the drain. Any fat, from bacon grease to olive oil, can damage your pipes, the sewer system and, ultimately, the environment. Instead, let your pans cool down, then pour fats into a disposable container (preferably one you’re reusing.) Keep using the container to collect fats, then throw it in the trash once it’s full.

6. Position work surfaces near skylights or windows. Try to position most of your activities — from chopping to scrubbing — near a natural source of light. Natural light is free and uses zero energy, plus it’s the best light available.

7. Use a high-efficiency ceiling fan instead of an exhaust fan. Adequate circulation and ventilation are important. But consider using a ceiling fan instead of an exhaust fan. It will encourage natural ventilation and air circulation, and use less energy than an exhaust fan.