Kitchens

Kitchen confidence - How to make it the green of your home

Alexandra Lopex-Pacheco, eco options, Fall 2007

The kitchen is where we all gather to cook, to talk and eat - and to spend time with family and friends. 

It's also the room in our house that has the most diverse impact on the environment.  For a start, it's where we recycle, compost - and generate garbage. Almost 40% of this country's solid waste is produced in households.

In these days of high energy costs, conserving electricity makes practical sense, but it's also one of the most important steps you can take to help clean up today's and tomorrow's air - and fight climate change and acid rain.  It's simple: the less energy you use, the fewer environment.

That's especially important for Canadians, because out of the 36 countries that filed reports with the United Nations Framework Convection on Climate change, we are the third-highest per-capital emitters of greenhouse gases, after Australia and Luxembourg.  Even worse:  according to Stats Can, rather than declining, our emissions increased by almost 26% between 1999 and 2003.

Then there's the water we use in the kitchen, from faucets to dishwashers, which accounts for about 10% of household water use.  That might not sound like a lot, but the fact is, the world is using water up faster than nature can replenish it.  by the year 2020, according to World Water Council estimates, we'll need 17% more water than the earth can provide.

Even in a water-rich country like Canada, municipalities, industry and agriculture need more and more water, which has to be balanced against nature's slow replenishing process. The Great Lakes, for example, and their bays and tributaries contain 20% of the world's supply of fresh water and 95% of the North American supply of surface fresh water. However, less than 1% of the water in the Great Lakes is replaced each year by precipitation. And because our water is not distributed in a geographically even way, many areas experience shortages. In fact, in the late 1990's, 26% of municipalities in Canada faced periods of insufficient water.

ENERGY FACTS

ENERGY STAR is an international symbol of energy efficiency that helps consumers easily identify the most energy-efficient products that meet or exceed the ENERGY STAR criteria.

• All Eco Options appliances are ENERGY STAR certified.

• An ENERGY STAR fridge uses up to 50% less energy than older fridges, and exceeds the minimum federal energy performance standard for new fridges by at lease 15%

• Fridges with freezers on the bottom or top use 7% to 13% less energy than side-by-sides.   Top-quality ENERGY STAR fridges are made by manufacturers such as General Electric and Maytag.  Both companies  have been recipients of awards for their commitment to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions

• Features such as ice-makers take up space, increase energy requirements by up to 20% and can add to repair bills as well.

• The size of a fridge matters when it comes to energy consumption.  Make sure the fridge isn't bigger than you need.  That means 12 cubic feet for one to two people, and 14 to 17 cubic feet for three to four people.  Add 2 cubic feet for each additional person in the household.

• ENERGY STAR dishwashers are at least 25% more energy efficient than the minimum government standard. Consider replacing an older one - and count on saving not only energy but water, too.

• Avoid running your dishwasher at peak energy times:  in the morning, at noon and from about 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

• There's no need to sacrifice style for efficiency. Eco Options Fridges and dishwashers have some of the sleekest designs on the market.

FRIDGE TIPS

• Don't make your fridge work harder; keep it away from such heat sources as radiators, heating vents, kitchen ranges, dishwashers or direct sunlight.

• Let food cool before putting in the fridge.  That way, the fridge doesn't have to use more energy to chill the food.

• Fill a freezer capacity, but don't overfill a refrigerator as it blocks air circulation.  This means the fridge has to work harder to keep food cool.

• Check your refrigerator's door seal by closing the door on a $5 bill.  If it's not held tightly in place, the seal needs to be adjusted or replaced.

• Don't leave the fridge open longer than absolutely necessary.

• Use a fragrance-free, non-toxic Deodoroc Refrigerator Block, made from naturally occurring minerals, or and open box of baking soda to prevent odors.

DISHWASHER TIPS

• Don't waste water by pre-rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher - just scrape off food.

• Use the shortest cycle for lightly soiled loads.

• Save 10% of the cost of operating your dishwasher by air-drying the dishes.

• Wash only full loads, but don't overload: that could lead to poor water circulation and dirty dishes (or having to re-run the dishwasher).

• Check and clean drains and filters regularly to ensure efficient operation.

ORGANIZE GARBAGE

Remember, when it comes to garbage, reduce, reuse, recycle, compost - and then discard what's left over.

• Choose products with little or no packaging so you (and the environment) have less trash to manage.

• Get organized.  Think about how you use your kitchen and what space is available, then come up with a system that will make recycling convenient and simple.  You could turn your under-the-sink cupboard into a waste-management centre, for example, by installing a double or triple pullout waste/recycling container, such as the one below.

• Currently, almost 45% of an average household garbage bag is made up of material that could be composted.  That's why many municipalities in a growing number of provinces, including Ontario, Alberta, B.C. and Nova Scotia, are introducing the green, organic kitchen-scrap composting program.  To make it work, think clean and neat.

• Keep a small organics container in an accessible spot.

• When clearing the table, scrape the scraps from plates onto used paper napkins or old newspaper, wrap them up and throw them in the indoor organics container.  Peel vegetables onto newspaper or a paper bag.

• To avoid unpleasant smells, empty the organics container daily, sprinkle baking powder in it and keep meat scraps in the freezer until pick-up day.  Wash the container regularly.

THE KITCHEN SINK

• Installing a water filter will treat and remove many contaminants from your water. 

• Don't use chemical drain cleaners to unplug clogs - that's just poring chemicals into your municipal drains, which means it costs more (and takes more energy) to treat the water and make it drinkable again.  Instead, opt for chemical-free One Second Plumber or Kleer Drain Instant Drain Opener.  You'll clear the drain and keep the environment clean as well. 

• Install faucet aerators to save on water.

WHERE TO START

A good first step is to buy non-toxic cleaning products that won't leave a toxic cleaning products that won't leave a toxic residue, either on counter surfaces or in the air.

Alternatively, you can make your own cleaners.  It's easy, and the ingredients are inexpensive and totally safe. 

If you want, you can add essential oils to any of the following cleaners, either to scent, or in the case of oils such as tea tree, sweet orange and lemon grass, to also disinfect.  However, be careful to use only a few drop, as these oils are highly concentrated.  Also, be sure to include an emulsifier such as witch hazel, aloe vera gel, cornstarch or vinegar, to make sure the oil blends with the other ingredients.

And for all your cleaning, try using microfibre cloths, which are reusable and designed to pick up dirt without any chemical cleaners.  Or recycle old towels by cutting them into small squares or turn old dish cloths into cleaning rags.

ALL PURPOSE CLEANERS

Mix one part water to one part vinegar in a spray bottle for a cleaner that will also disinfect and deodorize kitchen surfaces.

• Use borax, a naturally occurring mineral that deodorizes, disinfects, kills fungus and mould, boosts, laundry soap and removes stains. It can be used as a multipurpose cleaner and an alternative to bleach. However, it is poisonous if ingested, so keep it out of the reach of children and don't use it near food.

1 tsp (5 mL) borax

1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) baking soda

2 tbsp (2.5 mL) vinegar

1/2 tsp vegetable-oil-based liquid soap (available in most health-food stores and in supermarkets with an organic/natural product section) or mild, fragrance-free, liquid hand soap

2 cups (500 mL) very hot water

• Lemon contains citric acid, making it an excellent and versatile cleaner that bleaches, disinfects, deodorizes, cuts through grease and polishes brass and copper.  Use half a lemon as a scrubber, adding baking soda for extra scouring power, to get glistening stainless-steel sinks and aluminum pots.

• Baking soda can be mixed with lemon or vinegar to make all-purpose cleaning solutions.  Or make a paste with water and use it to polish silver. 

FLOORS

White vinegar is an all-purpose cleaner, deodorizer and mild disinfectant that can be used to wash floors, clean windows and remove stains.  Pour one part water to one part vinegar in a spray bottle to clean, disinfect and deodorize surfaces or in a bucket to wash floors.  Or make the following:

1/4 cup (50 mL) baking soda

1 tbsp (15 mL) mild vegetable-oil-based liquid soap or mild, fragrance-free, liquid hand soap

1/4 cup (50 mL) vinegar

7 quarts (8 L) hot water

WOOD FURNITURE

Three parts olive oil to one part white vinegar, or one part lemon juice to two parts olive oil, make an exdellent cleaner and polisher for wood furniture.  Pour the mixture into a spray bottle or dampen a soft cloth with it and rub clean.  Remove fingerprints on stainless-steel surfaces and cooking utensils with a few drops of olive oil on a soft cloth.

WINDOWS

One part water to one part lemon in a spray bottle can be used to clean windows.

DRAINS

Regularly pour 1/2 cup (125 mL) baking soda down the drain, then 1/2 cup (125 mL) white vinegar, Let stand for five minutes, and then pour in a full kettle of boiling water.

STAINS

Salt, mixed with baking soda or lemon juice, is good for cleaning tea and coffee stains in cups and for removing red-wine stains from tablecloths.

AIR-FRESHENER

Put some orange peel, a few cinnamon sticks and some cloves in a piece of cheesecloth, tie it together and drop it in a pot of water.  Simmer slowly for a few hours, adding water as needed.  Or simmer slices of lemon for a lemon-fresh scented home.