Everything has some sort of toll on the world around us but if we recycle our old belongings and make ethical choices in what new ones we buy, we can do our bit for the environment and have the home we want.
Here are three top eco-friendly kitchen upgrades that you need in your life:
Induction cooking
If there’s one chore you can’t avoid, it’s cooking, so why not make it as easy as possible? Induction cooking offers all the benefits of gas without the risk of burning your house down in the time it takes to duck to the bathroom. Since it works through the use of magnets, rather than heating an element like a traditional electric stove, it’s more efficient and therefore better for the environment, and your wallet. You’ll need to upgrade to induction friendly cookware in order to get the most out of your new stove (since pots and pans that aren’t magnetic won’t work with induction cooking) but if you donate your old cookware to charity then you’ve got yourself a guilt-free purchase.
A shiny, new, dishwasher
The days where dishwashers used crazy amounts of power and water just to provide a substandard clean are dead and gone. If you have a new, energy-and-water-efficient model, chances are your dishwasher will actually use far less water than washing the dishes by hand will, and provide better results. Not only does this remove the hard work from your post-dinner tidy up, but a new dishwasher can also boost aesthetics and functionality in kitchens which have pre-existing legacy models. You’ll need to check regulations in your area to see if your old dishwasher can be recycled but if it can’t, many charities accept major appliances and if old faithful does find its way into landfill, rest assured that the reduced water and power consumption your new model brings will help lower the environmental toll of disposing of your old one.
New light fixtures
If your home isn’t a new build, and you haven’t upgraded your lighting recently, chances are you’ve still got incandescent or halogen globes. While there’s nothing wrong with this, and different types of light work better in different parts of your home, most older, power-hungry globes can be replaced with fluorescent or LEDs bulbs. Upgrading to more energy efficient lighting has obvious benefits for the environment and if your kitchen is feeling a little outdated, use the switch as an excuse to upgrade your fixtures, as well. Most light fittings are easily recycled or donated so you don’t need to feel bad about adding to landfill and you’d be surprised at how much a new light can change the look and feel of a room.
There are far more ways to make your kitchen more environmentally friendly, but since these three options can have such an impact on your water and energy consumption, they’re a great place to start. If you’re looking to make bigger changes, consider investing in solid wood cabinetry and flooring or add some granite or marble to really make things pop. Since these are both natural materials rather than man made, they have far less of a carbon footprint than most alternatives. Do your research on the items you want to upgrade and have an overall design in mind before you start making changes, then go forth and create your dream kitchen. Your family, the environment and your wallet will thank you later.
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