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Create an eco-friendly kitchen
Did you know your kitchen is probably one of the greatest sources of energy consumption in your entire home.
🕑 7 minutes read
With energy prices rising, you might be looking for ways to cut your costs and saving energy. The kitchen is one of the best places to start, as some of the top five energy consuming appliances can be found here.
Wet appliances in the kitchen account for about 14% of your total energy bill. That’s the washing machine, dishwasher and the sink, all of which require water and energy to heat it up. Fridges and freezers make up about 13%. Then there’s lighting and electricity and the way you cook your food.
Source: Energy Saving Trust
So, if you’re trying to reduce your home’s carbon footprint (not to mention your monthly bills), we’ve got five ways to help you make your kitchen more eco-friendly.
1. Try some oven alternatives
Winter calls for warm and cosy meals. But if you want to cut down on your oven usage to save on costs, there are plenty of options. One-pot meals are quick and easy to put together and often mean you’re not using both the hob and the oven. In fact, cooking one meal in the slow cooker could save you money because an average-sized slow cooker uses only 1.3 kWh per meal cooked, which is less than 1p per hour on the average energy tariff.
Source: Uswitch
Did you know that microwaves are more cost-effective to run than an oven? That’s because they’re not heating up the air around your food as an oven does. There are many different kinds of microwaves you can get, including those that grill, roast and defrost.
Then, for all those times that you do use the oven, you make the most of all the lovely warm air it’s created by leaving the door open or ajar. That way, it’s heating your home as it cools.
In the summer months, you could mix thing up by cooking meals on outdoor barbecues and grills. There are plenty of sustainable, long-lasting ones that can offer an energy-efficient addition to your outdoor space.
2. Stop washing your energy down the drain
Consider stopping pre-washing your dishes before loading in the dishwasher to reduce costs and energy usage. You could also save money and energy by waiting until your dishwasher is full before putting it on.
Source: Money Saving Expert, December 2023.
3. Consider what your kitchen is made of
If you’re thinking of making home improvements, don’t miss your opportunity to make your kitchen more eco-friendly.
When it comes to building cabinets and work surfaces, don’t settle for non-recyclable MDF.
Instead, look for sustainable, FSC-certified timber. Not only is it better for the environment, you can find plenty of lovely styles – and you can even get that ‘real wood’ smell in your kitchen.
These types of wood are easy to find at most major retailers. And if you’re looking to go even further, why not shop around for other sustainable materials too? Keep an eye out for recycled glass, metal and perhaps even whole fittings on Facebook Marketplace, eBay and in your local community. Choosing a second-hand cabinet is far cheaper and much better for the environment.
4. Remember, little things go a long way
There are all sorts of other little changes you can make around the kitchen to help make it an eco-friendly part of your home.
Making conscious choices when storing your food can make a difference. Reusable food wrap like beeswax covers or soy wax vegan-friendly wax wraps is one way to replace clingfilm. Not only is it better for the environment and can help to cut down kitchen waste, but they can be a cheaper option too. These reusable wraps will last about a year.
Why not make the switch to eco-friendly cleaning products? From compostable sponges and cleaning cloths to ecological cleaning chemicals, and even bin bags made with recycled plastic, there are all sorts of environmentally friendly options out there.
With just a few small switches you can have a more sustainable kitchen.
Updated June 2023