Green your Kitchen

Use Energy-Saving Appliances. You can greatly reduce your energy and water usage and your greenhouse gas production by using ENERGY STAR appliances. You'll also save money! Start with your refrigerator - make sure it is an Energy Star version. And, do you really need two refrigerators? If so, make sure the second is efficient too, especially if it is in your hot garage. Your dishwasher is a quadruple opportunity: you save energy (1) and associated emissions (2), water (3) and wastewater(4). Look for an Energy Star dishwasher or better. See Energy Star refrigerators See Energy Star dishwashers See solar ovens
	Use skylights / solar tubes, compact fluorescent or LED lighting. A standard or tubular skylight saves energy for as long as you own your home. For kitchen light fixtures, make sure to use compact fluorescent or LED bulbs. They last much longer (5-20x) and use 25% or less electricity compared to standard bulbs. See lighting Find LED light bulbs Find tubular skylights
	Compost. Don’t throw out all of those scraps; save landfill space & make your own rich potting soil using a composter. There are specialized models that work in your kitchen, and another that composts meats and other non-plant wastes. See composters See composting crocks and supplies
	Get green cleaners. Use non-toxic, organic dish soap, detergent and cleaners. They are healthier for your family and work as well as standard products. Get green cleaners
	Recycle and re-use. Can you rinse that ziplock & use it again? And don’t get plastic bags every time you go for groceries–use durable reusable sacks. Find reusable shopping bags
	Fill your dishwasher as fully as possible. Fewer big loads save you money and energy. And, only wash things in the sink if they can’t be washed in the dishwasher (the machine uses less water and energy than you would!).
	Get an aerating faucet attachment. These easy screw-on upgrades aerate your water so that you get the same cleaning power with much less water. Putting one on your kitchen sink can save hundreds of gallons of water, significant amounts of energy and hundreds of pounds of carbon dioxide per year. Find aerating faucet attachments
	Planning a green kitchen remodel? Consider cabinets, flooring, and countertops made of recycled and renewable resources. Check out this link for green kitchen remodeling recommendations. Read about eco-friendly kitchen remodeling taken from :http://www.lowimpactliving.com/pages/green-projects/rooms/kitchen