Going Green: What Can I do to With My Kitchen?

Feb 10, 2011
by: Asseth Evanie

Choosing the approprite energy-efficient food preparation, cleaning habits and using equipment made from sustainable materials lead to a truly healthy green kitchen. Read on for tips for a healthy kitchen.

Counter Tops

Some of the green counter tops we can use are PaperStone, which is made from recycled and natural substances. Mosaic countertops can be made from recycled glass or other recycled material or Bamboo, which is durable and sustainable. Bamboo countertops give a natural look to your kitchen. No toxic chemicals are associated with bamboo. Avoid fiberboard, particle board, vinyl, and other chemically-laden materials. If you use marbles in your counter tops, use natural marble care liquids.
Flooring

Some of the green Flooring options are Natural linoleum or marmoleum, which are made from natural, sustainable, and sometimes recycled materials. Other options are Bamboo and recycled rubber tiles. Though wood florring is prone to molds, you can use organic mold detergents in cleaning.
Cookware and utensils

Buy Cookware and utensils made of stainless steel that lasts longer. Use Waterless Cookware. Avoid Teflon coated cookware as it has the health hazards. Avoid tissue papers for cleaning instead use reusable cloth.
Pressure cookers

Pressure cookers are another great way to save energy, reducing cooking time by up to 70 percent.
Solar ovens

Solar oven they are gaining in popularity now. It requires no fuel. It is safe and does not pollute.
Chest freezers

Chest freezers have the horizontal lid so when you open the door heat rises, and cold air falls inside unlike the vertical ones were the cold air goes out when you open the fridge door wasting energy.
Choice of Appliances

Go for appliances that have green advantages. Energy Star rated Appliances will save your money and reduce your energy use. Use eco-friendly Induction Cook tops. Try Thermal Cookware that cooking food in its own heat. Buying reconditioned appliances reduce waste.

For small dishes, using microwave instead of the oven can reduce cooking energy by as much as 80 percent.Do not uses undersized pot when cooking on the stove as it waste fuel. Use cookware that has lids which help in reducing cooking time and keeps heat in the pan longer.
Cook your own Food

Say No to Genetically Modified Foods. Avoid buying pre-prepared, frozen foods. Make them yourself, at home as you know exactly what is going in to your food.
Grow vegetables in your backyard

If you have the space, grow your own fruits and vegetables. You can try hydroponics – Growing Plants without Soil or grow plants using upside down technique. Use own Homemade Fertilizers for your kitchen garden. Kitchen waste can be converted to vermicompost
Cleaning your Kitchen

Use home made eco friendly cleaning product to clean your counters, dishes, and floors. Ready made non-toxic, biodegradable, plant-based detergents are also available able in the market. MyCleaningProducts offers variety of affordable green cleaning products and natural home cleaners. I recommend you buy from their online store to save more.
Buy Local

Buying directly from farmers themselves locally, you get fresh fruits and vegetables at cheaper rate.
Buy in Bulk

Purchasing and cooking food in bulk mean less packaging waste, and less trips to the store, and can also mean financial and energy savings.
Ways to reduce kitchen Waste

Kitchen generates the most waste than any room in your house. Carry your own reusable bag whiles going to store and buy fresh and unwrapped produce. Buy just what is required otherwise it will end in dustbin as garbage. Do not throw away old glass bottles and packing bags. Reuse it. Avoid using plastic containers. It is unsafe.
Use Eco-Friendly Pest Control in Kitchen

Use eco-friendly insect repellants.Use Environmentally Friendly Tio2 Photo Catalyst Mosquito Trap. For list of pest control green products, click here.
Use LED Lights In Kitchen

LED lights are eco- friendly. It does not contain poisonous chemical mercury found in florescent and CFLS. Avoid using CFLS it is harmful. LEDs are energy efficient and saves energy compared with other lighting products.
Use Thermoelectric Appliances

Thermoelectric Coolers And Warmers and Wine Cooler are more eco-friendly and have no ozone depleting gases. They are often very energy efficient. It causes no vibrations as it does not have traditional compressor.They are smaller, saving valuable floor space.
Use ultrasonic food washer

Use Ultrasonic food washer to remove 98.9% of agricultural chemicals from fruits and vegetables easily and efficiently without Scrubbing
Use Cold Press Juicer

Juice extracted from Cold Press Juicer at a low temperature holds at least double the nutrients and living enzymes when compared with common Centrifugal Juicer.

Going green and using green organic cleaning products is the best way to train your children how to conserve energy, protect our environment and save Mother Earth. Green cleaning products have the ingredients that are safe to use on your kitchen. For more tips and products, visit MyCleaningProducts or GreenBeanCleaning.com