The environmentally ethical kitchen of your dreams will of course start with you eating clean and sustainable produce. However, the bigger picture extends further. Cleaning, food preparation, equipment and chemicals used are all a big part of how green your kitchen is. In the start even though installing certain features will look costly, you will actually be saving a lot in the long run, not to mention the fact that this will be a healthier lifestyle for your family as well.
Build the kitchen last
Choose utensils and kitchenware that is durable and efficient. An induction cooker for example, is a much better choice that will last you awhile as opposed to a normal gas stove. Try as much as possible not to get any Teflon made equipment involved. Stainless steel and cast iron are both great substitutes for the non-stick pans that are still causing a debate on how healthy they actually are. In addition cast iron and stainless steel even though costly will stay with you in great condition for years. Even with knives and spoons invest in high quality utensils that are durable and opt for fabric table covers as opposed to paper.
Cut down on your energy usage
It does not just have to be the kitchen. For example, an eco friendly air conditioner in your living room is also a great way of going green and saving up on all those crazy bills that you need to pay off. However when it comes to picking a stove, gas and electric can both be concerning as one is fossil fuel and the other is coal burning plants. Many people choose gas because the process is simpler and you have more control over the temperatures. Therefore if you want to go with gas look for the lowest BTU output which means that your stove will be an efficient one. Ceramic glass surfaces that use halogen sources for the heat production are also green and energy efficient. There is almost no heat wasted in the case of these products.
Check well about your appliances
Do not just jump in and purchase all the equipment you need to go green. Sit down and think about your decision and if you have the budget for it. Then read a bit about how you can correctly choose the utensils without wasting your money. Read about the advantages and the disadvantages as well and think if your lifestyle is compatible with the changes that you are about to make. Look for energy star ratings in all appliances that you choose to buy.
DIY is important
As much as possible, no matter how busy you are cook your food yourself, avoid pre-cooked, frozen and other canned foods and try to cook everything yourself. You will be much healthier and you will also know for sure, the accurate nutritional values and ingredients that have gone into your food.