An useful guide on how to make your kitchen greener, more sustainable and energy efficient

1. The Green Kitchen Guide

2. The Green Kitchen Guide
Table of Content:
Benefits
Key Ideas
Appliances
The Payoff
Resources

3. Introduction
The way we live in and use our houses has changed forever. Without a
doubt, the kitchen is one of the most important spaces in our homes. With
so much attention on sustainability, it is important that we build this space
with the environment in mind.
Energy consumption and bad ventilation are among the most important
challenges we face in the modern kitchen. Because of the amount of
appliances we use, kitchens tend to be the most energy intensive spaces in
most UK households.
Following our recommendations will help you to create a kitchen that is both
environmentally friendly and energy efficient.
Image via Colby Fagin on Pinterest

4. Benefits
One of the benefits of running an efficient kitchen is the impact it has on
your carbon footprint. There are also several other advantages to making
your kitchen more sustainable:
 Energy savings as a result of less use of power and a better use
of natural light
 Health benefits that come with having a brighter, airier working
space
 Contributing to an environmentally friendly planet
 Reduces waste going into landfill sites
 Make us more aware of the benefits of making ‘green’ choices in
the future
Image via pinmarklet on Pinterest

5. Key Ideas
Whether you’re having a new kitchen fitted or making your old one more
sustainable, following these tips can make the process much easier:
 Insulate your kitchen walls and floors
 Install your work surfaces near a natural source of light.
Cooking in the daylight will save electricity
 Consider swapping your hot water tank for a boiler – this way,
water will be heated only when you need it, as opposed to
staying hot the all the time
 Use your windows more often - they are the most efficient
method of airing the room
 Use artificial light only when necessary and install efficient,
energy saving light bulbs
 Use eco-friendly washing up liquid
Image via pinmarklet on Pinterest  Divide your rubbish for recycling and composting
 Compare gas and electricity prices and search for offers

6. Appliances
Fridges and freezers are among the least energy efficient appliances in our
households. When replacing your old appliances you should keep in mind:
 Energy efficiency
- A++ appliances are up 40% more energy efficient than the
average appliance
- A+++ appliances are up to 60% more energy efficient than
the average appliance
 Water efficiency
- Modern dishwashers use less water and less energy to heat
that water
- Find out more about water saving habits
 Durability of the appliance
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 Reliability of the appliance

7. Appliances
There are a few ways you can make your old fridge and freezer work more
efficiently:
 Place it away from the direct sunlight or any other source of
heat, such as a radiator or the oven
 Keep your freezer full. It is easier to cool solid food than
empty space. Fill bottles with some water and put them into
your freezer if necessary
 Let food cool down before putting it into the fridge
 Set the right temperature: 3-5 °C for the fridge; -15 °C for
the freezer
 Leave some space between appliances and kitchen walls to
allow space for air to circulate around the coils at the back of
the appliance
Image via pinmarklet on Pinterest  Check the door seal on your fridge and make sure it works
properly. A broken seal might force the fridge to use even
more electricity

8. The Payoff
Making your kitchen more energy efficient does more than just reduce your
carbon footprint. It also saves you money on your gas and electricity bills.
According to The Energy Saving Trust, you could reduce your electricity and
gas bills by 43%, depending on the shape, size and features of your kitchen.
Image via Dick Stroud via Pinterest

9. Resources:
o Green Home Guide
o Energy Saving Trust
o Green Kitchen