Green Remodeling: How To Make Your Kitchen More Sustainable

A healthy, green kitchen is a concept that is getting more attention these days, but you might wonder what it means. Along with eating healthier, a green kitchen is important as far as the imprint you leave on the planet. Whether you’re constructing a new kitchen, upgrading the old one or looking for ways to be more energy-conscious and eco-friendly, there are ways to change the impact of your kitchen habits on the environment.

Appliances

Before purchasing a new appliance, be sure you know how to dispose of the old one that’s good for the environment. An energy-efficient appliance like a dishwasher can often save more water than washing dishes by hand. As long as you ensure that the dishwasher isn’t run with only a few plates, it’ll be more efficient to purchase a dishwasher to conserve on water.

Piping and Insulation

In areas where the pipes can run through unheated areas, they will lose much of the hot water’s heat. That means wasted water and taking longer for the water to run hot. You can save energy as well as your water bill by insulating the pipes as well as the water heater itself.

Buying a Filter

Instead of buying water, you can save money by using a water filtration system. The system will remove pollutants from the tap water, which means that you won’t have to purchase bottled water. In the long run, a filter system attached to your faucet will bring you savings.

Low-Flow Faucets

Kitchen faucets can be replaced with low-flow faucets that use less water. Low-flow faucets use an aeration system, so they will not lose water pressure, but there will be less water wasted. These types of faucets use less than two gallons per minute. If you need to replace your current low-flow faucet, try repairing first before you spend money on a brand-new faucet.

Recycled Counter Materials

Instead of using granite countertops, you can buy recycled or composite countertops. They have a positive environmental footprint and many types are stain resistant and durable. They also show individuality, which is something you might want in your home.

Natural Lighting

Windows can reduce the need for artificial light and can reduce the heat required in a home. Unfortunately, in hot, sunny areas of the country, they can reduce the cooling. Skylights can be a great alternative to large windows that might bring in unwanted heat. A special glaze might be a viable alternative if you want natural lighting to enter the home, but without the heat.

Food Preservation

Along with the appliances and faucets, you can plan to buy fresh foods that can be dehydrated or frozen. Food preservation will help you spend less money since you’ll buy fruits and vegetables during the right season then store them for use during the off-season. This helps to save you money, but it also helps you conserve the planet’s limited resources.

Composting and Gardening

In your kitchen, you can start a composting system that creates less waste headed to the landfill. While you might not want to keep a compost pile in your kitchen, you can use compost to start a small garden there. There are plenty of plants that can be grown in a kitchen window, or a small greenhouse space. It’ll save money in the long run, and help your kitchen become a sustainable, green space.

Sustainable Flooring

While durability in the kitchen is the top concern, you should also consider eco-friendly options. Salvage or reclaimed wood is a great option for a durable, green flooring option. It’s also unique and can be a beautiful feature in the home. Recycled materials can be made into tiles as well. Check out all the options before making your choice of flooring.

Whether you’re building a home or remodeling the kitchen, you can choose to reduce your footprint through various green practices like using recycled countertop materials, building a window garden and fixing low-flow faucets instead of replacing them. Energy efficient appliances can make a huge difference in the home too.