Greening your Kitchen

Circle of Wellness
Greening your Kitchen
Home Wellness

If, as the French say, “The torch of love is lit in the kitchen,” say then a love for nature must be lit in a green kitchen!

The extent of your love for nature is evident in the choices you make, both big and small. From kitchen appliances, to the grains you eat, every time you make a greener choice, it has a positive impact on the environment, and your health.

When you make a choice to save energy, you not only save on your electricity bill, you also reduce the burden on your country’s resources. And making these choices is simple and easy!

For example, if your appliances are more than 12 years old, bid them goodbye, and go for a “good buy”. A good buy would be an appliance with an Energy Star rating. This rating means that the product has met strict energy efficiency guidelines to help reduce your energy bills. A good buy could even be a solar oven or cooker. Besides being cheaper and healthier, solar cooking is tastier!

Going green does not mean spending big bucks. If you’re up for a green makeover use these tips to get started:

• Use non-toxic or low-toxic cleaning supplies.

Harsh and toxic chemicals, like chlorine bleach, ammonia, and phosphates, emit fumes and leave residues that can harm our families. Misuse of these chemicals, by mistake or intentionally, can be fatal.

• Keep sponges and dishrags dry and clean.

If left wet, sponges and dishrags harbour and promote the growth of bacteria. To disinfect sponges and dishrags, put them in the dishwasher with the next load.

• Keep kitchen drains safely unclogged to avoid using toxic products

Use a drain strainer to trap food particles. Use a plunger or a mechanical snake to dislodge clogs.

• Don’t resort to pesticides instead, make bugs unwelcome, by keeping the kitchen clean!

• Compost your organic waste

You can use compost as a natural and non-toxic fertilizer in you flower beds and gardens. It’s fun, easy, and keeps landfills from filling up. If you don’t have a yard, consider using an indoor worm bin.

• Buy unbleached coffee filters, paper towels, tea bags, and other paper products

Bleaching of paper produces dioxins, which are released into the atmosphere, and deposited on the filters and paper products. Using bleached coffee filters alone can result in a lifetime exposure to dioxin that exceeds acceptable levels.

• If you have a natural gas stove, have the pilot light disconnected

Never use your gas stove as a space heater. This unnecessarily contributes to indoor air pollution by increasing the nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide levels of the air in your home.

• Avoid excessively packaged foods

Buy bulk foods or products packaged in recyclable materials, or reusable containers. Rather than buying beverages in individual cans, go for family or party packs.

• Pack garbage-less lunches in reusable containers instead of plastic and paper.

• Buy certified organic foods

Organic farmers don’t use toxic pesticides or fertilizers.

• Ensure effective ventilation

Keep your chimneys, exhaust fans, and vents clean and unclogged. Make sure your range hood vents to the outside.

• Use appliances sparingly

Avoid using gadgets for your routine chores, like cutting and chopping vegetables, washing dishes, and cleaning the floor. By doing these chores yourself, you will not only reduce your electricity bill, it may even save you some trips to the gym!

• Follow the 3Rs

There is no better place than in the kitchen to follow the principle of the 3Rs: reduce, recycle and reuse. Think of the 3Rs whenever working in the kitchen. You can apply this principle to your grocery bags, food jars and cans, etc.

Green Designs

If you are renovating or constructing a new kitchen, you can opt for green designs, without compromising style. For instance:

• Skylights can be used to make kitchens looks bigger and brighter. Letting in daylight also works as a cure for dampness, and related problems.

• Make sure your green designs are carried out with environmentally-friendly materials like veneered cabinets, and copper or stainless steel sinks.

• If you’re getting a new floor in your kitchen, or building a new home, install true linoleum or wood floors with low VOC treatment. Avoid vinyl flooring.