Going green has caught the world by a storm. And since the kitchen can be a place where a large part of the household energy and resource are used up, here are some handy tips on how to go green in your kitchen.
Green
1. Plant your own garden: If you have the space, plant a kitchn garden in your backyard. You get fresh organic vegies and also a workout while gardening.
2. Reuse the water: When you wash your lentils, rice and vegetables, save the water and put it in your potted plants. This way they also get some extra nourishment.
3. Soak 'em up: Soak your lentils and rice for a couple of hours before cooking. It uses less time and fuel to prepare. And don't forget to cover it while it cooks, best is to use a pressure cooker.
4. Ditch the paper: Get cloth wipes and towels which can be washed and reused rather than using paper wipes.
5. Off the microwave: When not in use, switch off power to your appliances like the microwave, oven, food processor etc. This cuts down on 'vampire power' and can reduce your electricity bills by 5%.
6. Use appliances judiciously: Avoid using the electric chopper if you can use the knife. Don't just shove food straight from the fridge into the oven, let it thaw for a while before you put it in to cook. And DON'T preheat the oven more than required. Making as best use of the oven as possible -- cooking more than one thing at once, for instance -- is wise.
7. Star gaze: Look for the Energy Star rating when buying new appliances or replacing your old ones.
8. Use CFLs: Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). They last about 15 times longer than regular bulbs, fit into standard fixtures and use up to 75% less energy.
9. Use the dishwasher only when full and skip the heated dry cycle and let your dishes air-dry if you can.
10. Don't place leftovers in the refrigerator while they are still hot. This will raise the appliance's internal temperature, and use more energy. Instead, let food come to room temperature before refrigerating.
11. Find greener substitutes to chemical cleaners. Spray countertops with plain tap water then wipe with a microfiber towel to eliminate 97% of germs and bacteria. To achieve an even deeper clean, wipe countertops with rubbing alcohol, which kills 99.9 percent of germs.
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