If you want to have an environmentally friendly home, you aren’t alone. There are over 370,000 LEED-certified homes in the United States.
A lot of people want to live greener lifestyles, but they aren’t sure where to start. If you can’t afford a completely green home overhaul, why not start with just making one room in your home greener?
Green kitchens can save money you on utilities and help the environment at the same time.
Want to know some simple ways to make an eco-friendly kitchen? Read on to find out how!
Three Tips For Awesome Green Kitchens
Keep in mind that design and use go hand in hand when you’re designing a green kitchen. Having green appliances can help make your kitchen more eco-friendly, but cooking with a green mindset can help just as much.
Everyone has different beliefs about the environment and what factors are the most important for making green rooms. Some focus more on the design of the room, others focus on how you maintain it and what’s in the rooms.
We’re going to help you get started with some basic things that can help make your kitchen into the green space you want it to be.
Go For Efficiency, Not Energy Sources
It seems like there’s an endless debate over whether electric or gas powered stoves and ovens are the best for kitchens.
People can find an array of benefits for both sources, and could easily find some drawbacks to both.
Instead of spending your time fretting over whether gas or electric is best for your home, just focus on the efficiency of your appliances and go from there.
A lot of energy gets wasted when people use inefficient ovens and stoves when they cook. When you focus on getting appliances that consume the least amount of energy, you make an eco-friendly choice that you can stand by.
Choose Eco-Friendly Materials
When you’re thinking about countertops and floors, make sure you design them with the environment in mind.
Plastic has seemingly become the go-to material for kitchen design. Plastic may be somewhat easy to clean and maintain, but it’s also terrible for the environment.
When you’re designing your new environmentally friendly kitchen use materials that are known for their eco-friendly nature.
Granite countertops, cork cutting boards, and a bamboo backsplash are excellent environmentally friendly materials.
Make it Easy to Live an Eco-Friendly Life
When you’re designing your new green kitchen, consider building in a simple sliding compartment for recyclables in your counters. Design it so that it’s easy to access, but also blends in seamlessly with your new kitchen design.
While you’re at it, designate a place for you to put your organic trash so you can start composting. Even if you don’t like to garden, you could donate or sell what you make to people in need of eco-friendly fertilizer.
One of the best ways to live an eco-friendly life is to make it easy to make the right choices. Design your kitchen so that it’s easy for you to cook and live in the greenest way possible.
Going Truly Green
Green kitchens are only the beginning of your new eco-friendly house. There are a lot of things you can do to make your home and lifestyle more environmentally friendly, and you won’t have to break the bank to do it.
Energy consumption has a lot of hidden costs for you and the environment. Read our post on how to reduce your energy consumption so you can help the planet and your bank account.