Photo Gallery: 9 EASY Ways To “Go Green” In The Kitchen

Want to make a change that’s better for our Earth, but not sure how or where to begin? Check out this article originally posted by DeliciousLiving.com. It gives you some pretty simple ways to “go green”. As a matter of fact, you may already be performing these green living tips and didn’t know it!

If you feel climate change is an overarching subject that you can’t personally impact, think again. Individuals can take small steps to be more eco-friendly and sustainable — and they can start in the kitchen. Take a look at nine ways to reduce your energy consumption, reduce landfill waste, and make an overall difference in your environmental footprint.

Water consumption: dishwasher vs. hand washing

Hand washing can give you a better sense of control over how clean your dishes get, but unless you’re a very eco-conscious hand-washer, it can also be very wasteful. Researchers at the University of Bonn in Germany found handwashing can use as much as 27 gallons of water and 2.5 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy to wash 12 place settings, compared with 4 gallons and 1.5 kWh used by a dishwasher to wash the same number of dishes.

Because dishwashers are still a luxury for many, researchers recommend several ways a person can become “supereconomic” with hand-washing dishes:

• Remove large food scraps from the dishes with a spoon or a fork.
• Manual dishwashing is easier if the food is not dried to the dishes, therefore start washing soon after the meal.
• Do not pre-rinse the dishes under running tap water.
• Manual dishwashing is best done in two sinks: one with hot water and detergent, the other with cold water for a quick rinse.

Energy efficiency: gas vs. electric stove

When you use a gas stove, natural gas enters your stove from a gas supply to your house. Once it reaches the burner, it comes into contact with air inside a mixer tube and is mixed with more air when it is released through holes in the burner. The ignition system lights the gas-air mixture, creating a blue flame and the higher you turn the burner control knob, the more gas is released.

With an electric stove, electricity runs to a wire inside the coils on the cook top. When you turn the dial on the stove, the electricity flows to the coil and heats up the metal.

When talking energy efficiency between a gas and an electric stove, the gas stove is a clear winner. It takes about three times as much energy to produce and deliver electricity to your stove. A gas stove will cost you less than half as much to operate, according to the California Energy Commission, provided you have an electronic ignition and not a pilot light.

Reduce electricity consumption: Get to know your refrigerator

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates your refrigerator takes up 14 percent of your household energy usage. While it’s our best friend in keeping food fresh, if you’re not using it efficiently, it can be a major energy hog.

Here are some quick tips about your fridge to help you stay eco-friendly:

• Allow leftovers to sit at room temperature for a while before putting them in the fridge. Hot leftovers raise the temperature inside your fridge, so it has to work harder and burn more energy.
• Check the rubber seal on your fridge occasionally to make sure it’s keeping cold air in and warm air out. To check, slip a dollar bill into the door; if it slips out easily, you need to fix or replace the seal.
• Keep your freezer as full as possible. You can fill an empty space with reusable ice packs so it will stay cooler.
• Check how old your fridge is. If it’s more than 10 years old, consider replacing it with an Energy Star-qualified one.

Reduce landfill waste: Buy in bulk, not packaged

Purchasing and cooking in bulk means fewer trips to the store, less packaging, and less time using energy-consuming appliances.

Stores such as Simply Bulk Market in Longmont, Colo., carry hundreds of pounds of bulk food, spices, pet supplies, soaps, coffees, teas and other items that traditionally would sell in smaller packages, which would create more landfill waste. By buying and cooking in bulk, you can help save not only the environment, but your cash, as well.

Side Note… For The Long Haul.

Looking to get of waste in a more eco friendly way? There’s a few Skips for hire that you can check out! Companies like Rotherham skips for hire can be quite helpful when you need to rid your home of waste.

If you have a need for construction waste removal, you can check out Renewable Energy Marketing. They have a variety of skip sizes, ranging from 2 to 40 yards.

If you’re on a budget, but still need a skip (and are in the company service area), you can contact Skips Nottingham! You can visit them by clicking ” Find Us Here ” .

Want to know the other tips to to help go green and/or get rid of waste? Tune in next time. As always… thanks for reading!