10 Tips for Going Green in the Kitchen

With the current problems associated with global warming and climate change, the old adage “charity begins at home” applies even more. We can start in our houses, ensuring that we go green right in our cleaning and cooking too. Here are ten tips that can help us in going green in the kitchen, enabling us to play an active role in addressing global warming and eventual climate change.

1. Go for quality and long lasting utensils and cookware: When it comes to choosing of the utensils and cookware, go for materials that will last .Some of them might cost a fortune but they will serve you better and for long. Go for quality items as opposed to beauty and other features that will fade away quickly prompting the need for replacement.
2. Use an energy efficient energy source, this will ensure that you save on your energy bills and also reduce the amount of carbon emission into the atmosphere. Make a choice between gas and electricity, in some areas especially where the main source of electricity is coal burning, use of gas may be the greener option. If you can go for renewable sources, the better, but the main point is to use the energy efficiently, avoiding wastage at all times. Energy can also be saved through use of cooking materials that do not require a lot of heating and at the same time retain heat for a long time.
3. Cook only that what is required at any time, this ensures that there is no food wastage; it also helps in reducing the costs associated with the collection of waste in your house. When you avoid wastage in the kitchen in terms of cooking excess, you will not only save on food but also increase your money savings.
4. When it comes to cleaning, use products that do not harm the environment. Going organic is the best way to ensure your health and environment is clean. It may cost you a little bit to purchase organic cleaning agents but in the long run, it is the best thing to do, both for the environment and health too.
5. Use locally produced food, shopping in the local farmers market, ensuring that you get fresh and organic products. You will also be reducing the amount of carbon produced in the atmosphere indirectly. Buying imported products means that carbon was produced during the transportation process. When you buy from the farmers market where there is minimal or no transportation, you will have greatly contributed to reduction of carbon emission in the atmosphere.
6. A kitchen garden where you grow vegetables means that you will get fresh produce all the times, this helps in reduction of carbon emission. It also ensures that what you are eating is safe, as you have taken precautions during the production process.
7. Avoid purchasing processed and packaged products, instead go for fresh.
8. Reduce the need for refrigeration, by buying in small quantities; cooking only what is necessary and buying fresh from the market.
9. Use recyclable bags while shopping for your food, at any time avoid plastics
10. Recycle; if you buy packed items, reuse the containers around the house, this will help you reduce the amount of waste generated in your house.