How To Create A Sustainable Kitchen Made Simple

Sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generation to meet their own needs. To put simple, to be more responsible on a social, environmental and economical level. This trend is also finding its way into kitchen designs across the world.

Not only does creating a sustainable kitchen mean contributing less to your individual carbon footprint, but it also helps in saving resources like electricity and water outputs that can help decrease your monthly bills.

Being environmentally conscious has become the new norm and shifting to more sustainable and eco-friendly product solutions is the way forward towards the future of kitchen and home design. In this article, we explore some of the ways you can incorporate “sustainability” into your kitchen.

1. The three R's

Most of us are familiar with the concept of the three “R's”, that is; reuse, reduce, and recycle. This concept lends itself as the first step you can take to create an environmentally conscious space. Reusing or repurposing existing items in your home to refresh your kitchen can breathe a new life into these items all while still incorporating something different in your kitchen. Additionally, creating a recycling system that segregates your waste in your kitchen can help you be more efficient in managing your waste and recycling or composting effectively.

Get a multi-compartment trash can and label the compartments to help divide your waste and allocate a space for various types of waste like food and liquid waste, glass and cans, as well as aluminum, cardboard and other paper-based materials.

2. Use Water-Saving Appliances

Another means by which your kitchen can become more sustainable is by investing in faucets and water systems that reduce output of water. Low-flow faucets are a great example of this and generally save up to 50% of water consumption. To maintain the volume of water without increasing water output, incorporate low-flow aerators, as they mix air into your water, providing the volume your low-flow water output needs.

Furthermore, water systems with an integrated heating system may reduce the usage of plastic and / or water bottles in your household and investing in a dishwasher that is more energy and water conservative is a great way to reduce water output.

3. Incorporate Energy-Saving Appliances And Lighting Options

Your effort to develop a more sustainable kitchen can be done easily by investing in energy saving appliances. Not only are these appliances eco-friendly, they are also highly efficient and help reduce costs on utility bills.

Appliances are generally rated in a scale from G to A+++. If an appliance has a rating of A+++ then that appliance qualifies as a sustainable option for you to incorporate into your kitchen. This revamping of appliances includes all possible electronically powered devices from big appliances like refrigerators to smaller ones like kettles. Even lighting can be made more efficient and eco-conscious. Changing your regular lights for LED ones can help reduce your utility bill and your carbon footprint.

4. Use Sustainable Products And Materials

When refurbishing your kitchen, make sure to use materials that are not only durable, but also do not harm the environment. Look out for PEFC and FSC certifications, either on company or product level.

It is good to know that the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification is an international, non-profit, non-governmental organization which promotes sustainable forest management through independent third-party certification. Sustainable forest management means taking the right action towards protecting and preserving the environment.

Did you know that even the paint we use has an impact on the sustainability of your kitchen space? Use VOC-free paint instead of regular paint for your kitchen room. This type of paint does not contain volatile organic compounds (VOC). VOC is the main contributor to the smell of newly painted surfaces. It contains harmful gasses that can negatively impact both your health and the environment.

Speaking about harmful chemicals and substances, make sure to ask your supplier of his choice of boards and wood and if it meets lowest level of formaldehydes.

5. Ask The Right Questions

Turning your kitchen into a more sustainable one is not something that needs to be difficult or expensive. Following the points mentioned in this article, and asking the right questions at your kitchen showroom of choice, will put you on the right track of creating a more sustainable kitchen that meets your individual taste, style and budget.

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