Kitchens are major emitters of green house gasses and pollutants. These are 10 easy, cheap ways to make your kitchen greener.
Switch Appliances Off at the Socket
Research has shown that even when the power on an appliance is turned off, so long as the socket is turned on the appliance continues to use energy and thus contributed to the emission of greenhouse gasses. So, switch it off at the plug, and turn it on only when you need it. This has the added advantage of protecting your appliances from damage by electrical surges, and lengthens the life of your appliance. Common appliances left unnecessarily on all day are electric stoves, coffee machines, kettles and microwave ovens.
Don't Use the Exhaust Fan in Winter
Normally, when we cook, we open up the windows or the exhaust fan so that the smoke, smell and heat all escapes. But in winter, its cold anyway, so why not save yourself some money by switching off the heater or airconditioner and leaving the doors open between rooms while you cook? Cooking heat is a wonderful room warmer, especially if you are using the oven, and has the added bonus of wonderful food fragrances that will have your family sitting at the table long before you call for them.
Open the Windows
In summer, leave the windows and doors open. Ensure ventilation by leaving windows in other rooms open too so air can circulate through your home, carrying out the kitchen heat and cooling your kitchen. If you absolutely have to use something, use a wall or ceiling fan rather than an air conditioner, as these use much less energy.
Have at Least 2 Dustbins
Organic matter that is wrapped in plastic and then thrown away, decomposes to form methane, a harmful green house gas. So have at least 2 dustbins; one for organics and one for non-organics. Line your organics bin with paper bags or newspaper and throw all your food scraps, leftovers, peelings and shavings in here, while the other bin takes everything else. When you take out the trash, throw away the paper bag without wrapping it any extra plastic.
Don't Overcook
Make just enough for your family to eat. Eat the leftovers, don't throw them away. Remember, it's a waste of money, food, energy and it pollutes unnecessarily. There are children starving in Ethiopia.
Buy Local
Besides creating jobs and thus helping your local economy, buying local saves fuel and energy buy using much less during transport. Most places have a weekend farmers market. Prices vary, but most places prices do not differ much from the supermarkets, and its worth a few cents extra. Plus you are ensured fresher , healthier food, as its not had to travel as far to get to you.
Grow Your Own Stuff
If you have a garden this is great; plant peas and tomatoes, corn and beans amongst your flower beds. They will need no extra care that way, and legumes (beans, peas and lentils) renourish the soil so your flowers will look better too. Gardening is a healthy, calming activity that the whole family can enjoy (get the kids to water the plants and the dog can help you dig any holes needed!). Home grown produce always tastes better anyhow. If you have no garden, many vegetables grow happily in pots indoors, such as peppers, chillis, paprika, some beans, carrots, onions and herbs. Herbs like coriander, watercress and brussel sprouts are especially easy to grow in kitchens in old shallow plastic containers, and this way when you need to use them you simply reach across the counter and rip off a few leaves.
Save Water
Kitchens are a major, major source of water wastage. In a time when world supplies of fresh, drinkable water are fast dwindling as rainfall patterns change, wasting water is becoming an expensive luxury no one can afford. Saving water is simple: DO NOT USE THE DISHWASHER!!! It may be tedious, but its cheaper and more environmentally friendly to hand wash dishes.
If you live in an older building that you own, call a plumber in to attach the outlet pipe from your sink to a water tank. Once this is done you can use your waste kitchen water to water your garden; it halves your water bill, gives you a lush garden anywhere and makes you feel good! Just ensure that you only use biodegradable soaps and detergents, such as Earth choice, so that you don't harm your plants. Another way to save water is to fit a rain water tank to your house. You can use rainwater for washing up as well as other things like gardening and filling pools.
Fit a Solar Geyser
It is a common misconception that solar power is only viable in sunny areas. Solar panel technology has advanced to the stage whereby solar panels are being effectively used in places such as Ireland. Save energy and electricity by replacing your gas or electric geysers with solar geysers; the initial costs may be steep, but the long term savings are astronomical, both monetarily and environmentally. The following sites have information about solar geysers:
Compost heaps are wonderful if you have a garden. Simply dig a hole in one corner and throw all you organic rubbish into it. Water it every now and again, and in about a month (in a warm climate) you can put it on your plants and never buy fertiliser again. If you don't feel like digging holes, simply put your organic waste under trees or shrubs and cover it up with leaves or a bit of soil; it will readily decompose on its own.
A little known composter is what's called the ‘canine-composter'. If taught to from a young age (6 weeks to 3 months), dogs will eat anything. So, keep a pot in the house that you throw all your vegetable scraps into (potato peels, onion leaves, extra celery, tomatoes going soft, etc.) and any meat or bones or leftovers can go in here too (especially chicken skins- beware of chicken bones though).
At some point during the day, add a bit of water and salt and boil this, for 15-20 minutes. Add dry dog food or powdered dog meal, stir until a thick porridgey consistency, and feed to your happy hound. Human food scraps mixed with formulated dog meal is highly nutritious and dogs love the taste as well as thrive on it. You will save on buying expensive dog food as well as helping the environment.
Be careful some HUMAN foods are NOT good for dogs!!! such as grapes or raisins(dangerous),chocolate(dangerous),macadamia nuts(dangerous),onions (in some dogs cause stomach upset and so can garlic)etc do a search online and find what foods are dangerous and be sure not to throw them in your dogs food!!!
secondly -- use the best quality food for your dog (dry or canned) not just cheap grocery store food premium foods offer better absorption of nutrients...less poop cause more is being utilized by the dog...you will also feed less of a better quality dog food...
DO NOT GIVE COOKED BONES TO DOGS!! they can cause MAJOR harm!! only raw bones (with meat still on them) and watch your dog !!! chicken bones can be tricky so best to avoid them -- shank bones can still splinter (the dry ones from a store or cooked ones)Knuckles are best - they are soft won't splinter and when dogs scrap them they get calcium from them...but again use cation too much can cause constipation and I am sure ya know that be quite uncomfortable... small shank bones from fillets might be too small for a major bone chewer also even if raw...
so do some research before doing any of this so you make an informed decision about what your feeding your dog please!!
look for these diets :
homemade dog food
RAW FOOD dog diet
BARF diet for dogs
Dr Picairn also has a book (ya can find online ) that discusses supplementing your dogs food with "real food" or feeding homemade sdog food (with recipes)...a good read
Be careful some HUMAN foods are NOT good for dogs!!! such as grapes or raisins(dangerous),chocolate(dangerous),macadamia nuts(dangerous),onions (in some dogs cause stomach upset and so can garlic)etc do a search online and find what foods are dangerous and be sure not to throw them in your dogs food!!!
secondly -- use the best quality food for your dog (dry or canned) not just cheap grocery store food premium foods offer better absorption of nutrients...less poop cause more is being utilized by the dog...you will also feed less of a better quality dog food...
DO NOT GIVE COOKED BONES TO DOGS!! they can cause MAJOR harm!! only raw bones (with meat still on them) and watch your dog !!! chicken bones can be tricky so best to avoid them -- shank bones can still splinter (the dry ones from a store or cooked ones)Knuckles are best - they are soft won't splinter and when dogs scrap them they get calcium from them...but again use cation too much can cause constipation and I am sure ya know that be quite uncomfortable... small shank bones from fillets might be too small for a major bone chewer also even if raw...
so do some research before doing any of this so you make an informed decision about what your feeding your dog please!!
look for these diets :
homemade dog food
RAW FOOD dog diet
BARF diet for dogs
Dr Picairn also has a book (ya can find online ) that discusses supplementing your dogs food with "real food" or feeding homemade sdog food (with recipes)...a good read