Green Kitchen Tips for Earth Day

With Earth Day on Wednesday, it seems that everyone is looking for ways to “green” their home. To ease you into the idea of creating an eco-friendly, green home, we are going to start off slow. This post is all about how to create a more efficient and comfortable kitchen.

Earth Day 2015 Green Kitchen

5 Green Kitchen Tips & Tricks

1. DISHWASHER

  • Only run your dishwasher when it is completely full.
  • Your dishwasher uses less water than washing dishes by hand. Most energy-efficient models can clean your dishes without you having to pre-rinse or wash them first. Simply scrape off any food and leave it to your dishwasher to do the rest.

2. RECYCLE

  • Composting is a great way to create free fertilizer for your plants and minimizes your consumer waste.
  • Keep bags in your car so you can save on paper and plastic when running errands.
  • In Newark, Delaware there is no need to sort your recyclables, but you should always double check with your city.
    Acceptable Items

    • Glass (clear, green and brown)
    • Plastic Bottles (narrow neck bottles only)
    • Metals (steel and aluminum)
    • Paper (newspapers, magazines, phone books and junk mail)
    • And More
  • Use cloth towels and rags instead of paper towels to save money and paper.
  • Use reusable water bottles instead of buying bottled water.

3. COOKING

  • Instead of using your oven for small meals, consider switching to toaster ovens, microwaves, slow cookers, or a smaller convection oven. You can use up to 30% less energy. It also reduces the amount of heat, meaning less of a need for air conditioning.
  • Match the amount of heat on your stove top to the smallest pot or pan that can accomplish the goal.
  • To avoid “vampire power” – energy that is lost when items are plugged in – make sure to unplug things when they’re not in use. Unplug as many devices as you can before going on a trip!

4. REFRIGERATOR

  • We all do it, but try not to browse the refrigerator for too long. Keeping the door open for extended amounts of time wastes a lot of energy.
  • Ensure that the door can fully close by examining the rubber seal. Take your hand and feel around the rubber seal for air leaks. If you notice your refrigerator leaking air, see about getting it sealed or repaired immediately.
  • Many homeowners have multiple fridges. See if you really need the extra fridge and how much energy you may be wasting here. You may not need that extra fridge space, but if you do, make sure to get an energy-efficient model that is the appropriate size.
  • If you do end up replacing your refrigerator, make sure the new one has the official Energy Star federal designation, which means that it meets high standards for energy efficiency.

5. LIGHTING

  • Swap out your light bulbs with Energy Star Certified Light Bulbs.
  • You will use 70-90% less energy than traditional incandescent light bulbs.
  • You will also cut cut cooling costs, since energy-efficient light bulbs produce 70-90% less heat.
For another green kitchen tip, you should always have a properly functioning plumbing and electrical system. The average home loses more than 10,000 gallons of water a year on undetected plumbing leaks (epa.gov).

Call Boulden Brothers for expert plumbing and electrical services including leak detection, pipe repair, low-flow plumbing, appliance replacement, GFCI installation, rewiring, fixture replacement, and more.

Celebrate Earth Day by making addressing some of these green kitchen tips!  No matter what type of plumbing services you need, Boulden Brothers is the best choice in the Wilmington & Dover, DE area. We know kitchens and have the skilled plumbers on staff to tackle any installation, maintenance, or repair job.

If you have any further questions on how to create a green kitchen, talk to the licensed, trained technicians at Boulden Brothers.

Visit us on our websiteFacebook, Twitter, and Google+ or give us a call at (302) 368-3848 for more green kitchen tips and other ways to create an energy-efficient home. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer any questions you might have.