Green Kitchen Appliances Pt 2
Experts predict that a shortage of water may very well be the greatest challenge that society will face. The kitchen isn’t the largest user of water in our homes, but it is one of them. There are a number of steps that we can take to use water wisely in order to help ensure that there will be enough fresh water in the future.
The good news is that using a dishwasher uses less water and energy than hand washing dishes. The key is being sure that you have an efficient model. Don’t run the dishes until you have a full load and stop rinsing the dishes before you load them into the washer. Energy efficient dishwashers have a heat booster that raises the temperature enough to sanitize your dishes without requiring you to turn up your home water heater. If it is time to replace your dishwasher, look for an Energy Star approved model. Look for the Energy Guide label or read the Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings. Set your dishwasher to the lowest energy and water levels appropriate to the load size. Use the option to dry without heat for all loads.
From a green kitchen appliance standpoint, there is no evidence to suggest that one type of kitchen sink is any better than another. If you are a real purist you might like to know that stainless steel sinks usually contain some recycled content and can be recycled again. From a green standpoint, consider buying a used sink.
Water heating accounts for 14-25% of the household energy use. You can save considerable energy by replacing an older heater with a high efficiency model. When shopping for a new water heater, compare the energy use of various models by looking at the Energy guide label.
Other water storage/heating units to investigate include Storage Water Heaters, Tankless Water Heaters, Solar Water Heaters and Gray Water Systems.
The storage water heaters are the most common but the least green. This is when water is heated and then stored in a large tank until needed (the energy efficiency is decreased in that the water in the tank cools and must be continually reheated to maintain a set water temperature). In a tankless water heater system the water is heated only as needed instead of being heated and held in a hot water storage tank. It is more expensive to purchase and install, but in the long run saves energy. A solar water heating system uses a solar collection device to capture solar energy and it is used to heat water. A gray-water storage system holds household waste that doesn’t contain sewage and can be reused for irrigation. Why not send your used shower water out to water the lawn? It just makes sense.
A faucet that leaks 30 drops per minute will waste 130 gallons of water a month. Fix your leaky faucets.
When it comes to kitchen waste, the environmentally approach is to cut down on the amount of waste in the first place. Compost food scraps and buy products that are produced in reusable or recyclable packing. When you design your new kitchen, plan a place for all recyclables. There are lots of pull-out racks these days, so you can hide recycling bins behind cabinet doors. But remember: you will be more apt to recycle if it is convenient.
Garbage Disposals are nice but require electricity and water to operate. If you must, preserve water and energy by not running it any longer than necessary.
Thanks for reading this article on green kitchen appliances. If you missed, Part 1, check out Green Kitchen Appliances: Cooking and Storage.
Further reading: Good Green Kitchens
by Jennifer Roberts.
Also see Part I: Green Kitchen Appliances: Cooking and Storage Appliances
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