With what we’ve already taken from the planet, it’s high time we start giving something back. Being eco-friendly in all aspects of our lives isn’t merely a matter of attitude or beliefs anymore, but rather something we’re obliged to do if we want to stop the destruction of Mother Earth and allow her to start healing. So, if you’re redesigning your kitchen, do it mindfully and with the environment in mind. Here are some tips to help you.
Get a new faucet
Wasting water should be a crime, and it’s definitely not one you want to be guilty of. However, this isn’t easy with a standard faucet. Namely, if you pay more attention to it, you’ll realize that you use water from it all of the time and for different purposes, such as washing your hands, the dishes, or a whole bunch of fruit and vegetables you need for your daily meal prep. This is why the first thing you should invest in kitchen-wise is a new, water-saving faucet.
Not only do these sustainable faucets save water in your kitchen, but they also provide you with the same water pressure you’re accustomed to. Some of the more up-to-date faucets even come with timeout settings, which means that they only run if there’s movement underneath them, but also with a sensor that does follow-up checks to see if water should start running again or not, which can further lower the amount of wasted water.
Cut down on disposables
One of the biggest mistakes we tend to make in our kitchen is using disposable products when we could be using reusable ones. Some common examples include paper towels, plastic food wraps, and paper or plastic cups. It’s actually silly to use these when there are so many environmentally-friendly substitutes for these particular products. So, if you’re contemplating green kitchen remodeling, make sure you purchase such things as cotton towels, dishcloths and napkins, organic reusable food wraps, and non-plastic food storage containers.
Similarly, instead of senselessly filling landfill sites with a whole bunch of single-use cups and cutlery, use glass or ceramic cups or get a reusable and recyclable one and carry it with you wherever you go.
Purchase a wok burner
When it comes to the practicality of kitchen appliances, this is one you’ll simply love, especially if you’re a fan of Asian food. If your standard cooker and the rounded bottom of your wok aren’t really compatible and you feel like you’re wasting energy on something that should be simpler and more enjoyable for you, a powerful wok burner might be just the solution you need. The best ones need only an LPG bottle to operate and their main advantage is that they heat the wok in no time, while distributing the high temperature evenly across its bottom for more efficient cooking.
You should be able to instantly change the temperature from blazing hot to lower one, ideal for simmering your meat and veggies. And as you’ll be able to adjust the flame underneath your wok for more precision in your cooking, you’ll avoid spending unnecessary energy, which is always good for the environment.
Find better recycling solutions
Recycling is something that’s truly easy to do, as separating garbage doesn’t take much time and it can minimize the amount of trash ending up in landfills and decrease pollution by lowering the need for manufacturing new material. This is why you should have individual bins for each type of trash, which will allow you to be more organized with waste and contribute to the well-being of the planet.
Fortunately for those who are worried about the esthetics of it, these bins can be integrated into your kitchen design in a way that they either don’t draw attention to themselves or that they’re hidden and not visible at all. Aside from separating trash, it’s also a good idea to recycle organic matter and food waste, so perhaps you should also look for a good kitchen composter so that you have your own homemade fertilizer in no time.
Buy a new fridge
Every kitchen needs a fridge, and in most cases, this is the appliance that gets used most often. After all, even when we don’t open it, it keeps working around the clock, which is why it’s crucial that you get a smart fridge. Nowadays, there are some state-of-the-art ones that you should take into account.
After all, although eco-friendliness and energy efficiency should be your priorities, there’s no reason not to select a fridge that has some phenomenal built-in features you’ve always wanted your fridge to have. For example, some of them will recognize the type of food items you store in it, and then use that information to create a shopping list for you. In addition to that, you can even count on your fridge to let you know if something is about to expire so that you can either eat it or dispose of it sooner.
To top all of that off, you can now get a fridge with a big screen at its front, so that you can watch TV while cooking. Finally, bear in mind that you don’t have to overload your fridge, since some of our groceries don’t require to be kept in low temperatures. In case room temperature will do, you should organize your pantry and place anything you can there, so as to relieve your fridge of at least a tiny bit of burden to maybe save some extra energy.
Wrapping up
Fortunately for us and our environment, there is now a variety of green and sustainable kitchen features for you to turn to if you’re ecologically conscious. You’ll be off on a good start with the excellent advice above so that your kitchen can finally reflect your wonderfully green mind.
