Is your Kitchen Green?
Guest post by Janice
Being green, or environmentally friendly, is all the rage these days, and as the saying goes “every little bit counts.” Reducing your carbon footprint on the world does not have to be some huge, heroic deed that changes the world, rather it can just be small, little lifestyle changes that can eventually lead to bigger change- especially if other people jump on board as well. When it comes to the house, there are tons of things that can be done to live a greener life, and this is especially true when it comes to the kitchen- which houses tons of chemicals, detergents and cleaners, which are not green, but can be exchanged for items that are greener- if not totally green in and of themselves. Here are a few ideas to keep in mind when making your kitchen greener:
1. Ditch the hot water
In order for water to get hot, it needs heat via a water heater, which is powered by electricity or by gas- both of which are not really that green. Thus, by avoiding the use of hot water whenever possible, you are actually making your kitchen just a smidge more greener. Of course, there are some uses when hot water is needed, but usually it is not. For example, when washing your hands, when using a garbage disposal and when filling up a pot or pan. On top of all that, your kitchen will not only get greener, but so will your bank account (due to the money you will be saving in heating costs.)
2. Do not forget about the microwave
Microwaves are typically 2 to 4 times more energy efficient than traditional stoves, so use them when you can. I love a slow-cooked meal just as much as the next guy, but you can still use a microwave for small things- like boiling water or cooking rice or veggies.
3. Use vinegar as a soap
Many soaps contain chemicals and other ingredients that are not very green. By switching to a vinegar/ water solution, you will be saving a ton of money, have much cleaner dishes and will also be helping out the environment in the process. The smell may bother you, but if you add a little bit of lemon or orange to the mix, you will find it to be quite pleasant.
4. Go to the cloth
Using cloth napkins instead of paper towels is a good way to go green. You will waste less paper (which tends to not be recycled, at all) and actually have more absorbent materials at hand. It may seem like a lot of washing would be needed, but this is not that true- especially if you use the vinegar/ water solution mentioned above.
5. Put those jars to use
People buy a lot of items that come in glass jars and plastic containers, but then they just throw them away. Keep them, save them for later and put them to good use- odds are there is something out there that they can be used for.
About the author: Janice is a stay at home mom. She has been called an eco-diva, ecopreneuer and a few other niceties. She’s currently working towards one of those online degrees in criminal justice and has written a lot about paralegal degrees amongst other topics.
