There are all sorts of reasons to do green remodeling. Conserving our planet and the environment is a big one. A healthy home is another. Budget considerations and soaring energy costs are a third. If you’re looking to conserve energy look no further than the appliance centre of most homes – the < strong>kitchen.
If you make a list of all the appliances in your home, it will probably be a long one. Lamps, computers, heaters, gadgets – we all have them. But if you look at where it all happens, in terms of consuming electricity, a lot of it comes down to your kitchen.
Almost every kitchen has a stove, a refrigerator, a washing machine, a kettle, a toaster and a microwave as standard. You will almost certainly have plenty of gadgets, appliances and accessories in other rooms of your home too. TVs, music systems, hair dryers and more… But the things that eat electricity are mainly in the kitchen. As well as hot water costs and general home heating, this is where a lot of money goes and the carbon emissions boom.
The things we plug in other rooms almost never run 24/7. Of all the gadgets on the market, most are for the kitchen. Re-assess. If you really, absolutely can’t do without them, go for an energy-efficient model. You could maybe ditch the dishwasher and tumble dryer. If not, shop for the eco-friendly and low power alternatives.
Let’s say it again – as a priority, you need to look at your refrigerator and freezer, or combo. This is the biggest power consumer in most homes. Freezing food is a great way to make economies and eliminate waste. But if your refrigerator or freezer is old, you’ll be paying out in other ways. The same goes for kettles – another appliance that can really eat electricity.
The kitchen is second only to the bathroom when it comes to electrical consumption, because of the need for hot water. Check out solar thermal energy alternatives. Insulate your hot water cistern properly with eco-friendly materials. Don’t forget recycling kitchen waste…