5 Tips For Creating An Eco-Friendly Kitchen

We all know that installing solar panels, reusing plastic bags and cycling to work all contribute to having a positive impact on our carbon footprint, but when it comes to inside our homes, what can we do to save energy or be more environmentally aware?

Kitchens are a room in the home which consume a lot of energy and power from the multiple electric and cooking appliances. As well as this, you should also consider the food waste, cleaning products and materials which we use in the kitchen. Despite all of this, the kitchen is also one of the easiest rooms to make eco-friendly, if you know how.

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Take A Closer Look At Your Appliances

When it comes to buying new kitchen appliances, do some research into whether there are energy efficient models that you can buy instead of regular ones. For example, refrigerators that have a built-in top or bottom freezer are often much more efficient than having two side by side models, as less cold air will escape when you open the door. If you need a new oven, then consider investing in a convection oven, as this type of oven tends to use a fan in order to drive heat from the source to the food, making it cook 25% quicker than conventional ovens.

Even if you do have energy-efficient appliances installed, it is possible that you may still be wasting energy. Cooking or reheating food in the oven uses a lot of energy and, if you have a microwave which you could have used, then it is unnecessary. Even the small things can make a difference, such as using lids on pans when you cook.

Refrigerate Food The Right Way

As well as maintaining the actual function of your refrigerator, the way in which you store food also matters when it comes to using it to the full efficiency. For example, safely allowing hot food to cool before you store it in the fridge prevents it from having to work harder to cool it. You should also cover your food to stop it from releasing moisture into the fridge.

When left uncovered, foods will emit moisture into the air and this means that your fridge will have to work harder to remove it. You should also store food in reusable food container rather than in cling film or foil as this cuts down on your carbon footprint and helps to keep your fridge working at its full potential.

Minimise Any Drafts

As many kitchens are located at the back of the house, they can become cold and drafty. These drafts can have a serious effect on your household bills and energy efficiency and this breeze can find its way into other rooms of your house. If you have a conservatory attached to your kitchen, then this may also cause a draft issue.

There are some simple ways to combat this which will minimise the effects of this chill in your home. Investigate where you are experiencing the drafts as it will more than likely be an exterior wall which is causing the issue. Look for obvious causes, such as vent holes or fan extractors and see if you can add in any extra insulation. When it comes to conservatories, these can be typically much colder in the winter months so adding in soft furnishings, such as rugs or covered furniture or soft covered luxury garden furniture which you can use in both the summer and winter, will absorb some of the chill.

Clean With Natural Cleaning Products

If you take a look, you will find that a large majority of kitchen cleaning products are in plastic bottles and packaging. Choosing natural cleaning products over synthetic ones can be just as powerful without all of the toxins which can have a damaging effect on your health and environment. If you make your own cleaning products, then not only will you cut down on packaging and production waste, but it will be much cheaper in the long run. You may be surprised when you realise just what can double up as a cleaning product which you already have in your cupboards.