Talking About Green

Environmental concerns corner us in every avenue of our modern lives. Even the most sceptical of global temperature trends are still motivated to change some aspects of their lifestyles as a matter of common courtesy. And because the initiative is increasingly being taken by the companies producing our household goods, we’re party to a collective effort to reduce waste and carbon emissions whether we’re lifting a finger to do so or not.

Despite technology seeping into every other area of our life, the kitchen is still the site of the majority of our energy usage. It is all very well for us to ensure that our appliances are turned off at the socket (rather than left on standby), or for us to use the occasional low energy light-bulb. But if we’re all running kitchens that are energy inefficient and full of future biohazards, is the Earth really making any net gains from our ethical decisions?

From the Ground Up

Most of us are conscientious home-owners, and our attitudes to waste and energy usage in the kitchen are already commendable. But when it comes to stripping the room down and fitting it out with environmentally friendly materials, good practice is something you won’t necessarily be familiar with. There is, undeniably, a conflict between fashion and responsibility here. A lot of the advice on flooring for instance, mentions cork as a good option. However, as cosy and easy to grow as this source is, it must be expensively waterproofed and tends to have a slightly out of date image. Bamboo is a more fashionable alternative.

Work surfaces too can be of variable appeal. So long as you’re building a very contemporary kitchen, Polished concrete worktops can be a fantastic idea. Ultimately, if you can account for where the materials are coming from, and ascertain that they weren’t inefficiently shipped halfway around the world, you’ve made it some way towards your environmentally friendly ideal. But consider also whether these materials can be reused or recycled after their lifetime, and to what extent you’re prepared to ensure that this happens.

Environmentally Friendly Appliances

Many countries have their own energy standards and groups campaigning for higher efficiency appliances in the home, and the kitchen especially. In the United States you should be looking for the Energy Star logo on your dishwashers and other appliances, in the United Kingdom the Energy Savings Trust have the same function. Their respective websites list endorsed appliances and grade their efficiency, though at the time of writing they’re not the most easily navigable websites. Most e-tailers will list these standards under their specifications though, so finding an energy efficient appliance is actually one of the easiest things to get right in your new kitchen.

Operating an Environmentally Friendly Kitchen

Once you’ve laid the groundwork for an environmentally friendly kitchen, you’re still required to use it in an environmentally friendly way if you want to actually have any effect. A lot of these directives are just common sense, and a lot of the advice on this page will save you money, even if it doesn’t save the planet.

Always endeavour to use less.  Water, for instance, is something a lot of people take for granted, but remember that running water involves some form of energy transfer and heating it will use a lot more. So when you’re washing the dishes, run a bowl! Cleaning the kitchen in general can be the source of a lot of waste. Using cloths instead of disposable sponges and paper towels is important, and whilst the challenges of cleaning require stronger products, you could switch to biodegradable alternatives, or simply replace the worst stuff with a bit of old fashioned elbow grease.

Remember that the kitchen has been a part of the household for centuries, and that it predates all these fancy bleaches and chemicals. Lemon juice and vinegar are simple, natural alternatives to surface and appliance cleaners (though keep the vinegar away from stainless steel), and Baking Soda makes a good scouring agent.

Always recycle, and favour products which can be recycled! An important part of kitchen recycling is to compost your biodegradables: leftover fruit and veg, teabags, that kind of thing. Simple things like routine can also improve your energy usage. Families will usually cook and eat together, but all households should consider doing so to keep costs down.

Steph Wood is a marketer and copywriter working for UK based Kitchen Science who specialise in frost free freezers and other white goods.