If you are on a journey to building a more environmentally-friendly house, a sustainable kitchen is a great place to start. Your kitchen is the most appliance-intensive room in the house, and throwing out old appliances is just one of a few money-saving upgrades to consider. It is probably the place where a lot of energy gets wasted.
Picking the right appliances for your home may be a difficult decision. You will be faced with deciding between gas, electric, or even solar. However, the basis of the decision should be aligned with your needs and affordability.
It is best to pick appliances that will last longer than a decade. Energy-efficient appliances are a good investment for your home. It brings you the convenience and efficiency of an industrial kitchen in the comfort of your own home.
Here are the top ten eco-friendly kitchen appliances you must have in your house.
Kettle
If you use your kitchen regularly, the chances are that you are probably using your kettle. An electric kettle drastically reduces your overall daily energy consumption. The best option is one with a measuring scale and a temperature control feature that automatically switches the appliance off when the water has reached a boil.
Coffee Machine
If you are a coffee lover, you may want to opt for a coffee machine. Preferably a device that does not use single coffee pods with reusable filters. These coffee makers are very damaging to the environment, as the pods and disposable coffee filters add substantially to landfills. Therefore, the best coffee machine for home use would be one with recyclable and compostable pods.
Energy-Efficient Stove
When it comes to picking a stove, the hardest decision you may face is whether you select gas or an electric stove. Many may opt for the gas stove for self-sustainability reasons as it reduces their reliance on the national grid. However, a gas stove is considered to be generally unhealthier than an electric stove. The gas stove typically adds between 25% and 39% more carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide to the air in your house.
Therefore, an electric stove with an induction cooktop is the best option for your eco-friendly kitchen. The induction cooktop is layered with elements that use electromagnetic induction to produce heat. The cooktop induces a current within the cookware, thus only heating food when placed on the stove, thus conserving the natural gas and electrical energy.
Refrigerator
Another vital appliance in your kitchen is the refrigerator; it is the only appliance that must be constantly kept on throughout the day and night. Therefore the fridge that you pick must always be an energy-star fridge.
Energy-star appliances are energy-saving appliances that guarantee eco-friendly and use less power. These appliances are marked with a sticker that makes them distinguishable from regular appliances.
Energy-star rated refrigerators are guaranteed to typically save approximately 9% more energy than other non-certified models.
If you can’t afford to buy an energy-star rated model, make sure to you, by all means, avoid models that release chlorofluorocarbons or hydrofluorocarbons. These gases are known to actively deplete the Earth’s atmosphere and the valuable ozone layer, which protects humans from the sun’s harsh ultraviolet rays.
Electric Oven
There are many electric ovens on the market that claim to deliver better cooking with less power. However, it is crucial not to be swayed by the salesperson. Make sure to pick an oven that offers you a variety of cooking modes.
Multiple cooking modes prevent the stockpiling or hoarding of appliances that generally do the same thing; for instance, an electric oven has the same technical capacity as a micro oven. They both heat food, so why have both?
Rice Cooker
A rice cooker can be an excellent investment for you if your family loves rice and consumes it almost daily. Rice might be your main staple due to cultural reasons, e.g., many Asian nations have an abundance of rice fields. They use rice to make products for hair, skin, and alcoholic beverages.
Remember to always choose a cooker with a steel lid instead of Teflon. These may contain harmful and toxic substances such as polytetrafluoroethylene and perfluorooctanoic acid or C8, which is man-made.
Dishwasher
Dishwashers are known to consume a lot of water and electricity typically; therefore, it’s crucial to be extra cautious when buying your next dishwasher. You must ensure that you buy a dishwasher that uses less water and less electricity without compromising the quality of its work.
Always go for an energy-star rated dishwasher as it can use only four gallons of water compared to the six gallons used by a regular machine hence saving you two gallons of water. Using an energy-efficient machine will drastically reduce your energy and water consumption utility bill.
Toaster
Along with the coffee maker, the toaster is an essential appliance to get your day off to a good start first thing in the morning. Most toasters are not energy-intensive and generally use less power regardless of their brand. However, it is always recommended to purchase an energy-efficient toaster with an energy-star rating to cut the amount of energy consumed.
Opt for toasters that only have two bread slots that are not ridiculously long and have an effective temperature control feature to avoid overheating or burning the bread.
Blender
In recent years blenders have seen their way to being one of the staple appliances in any kitchen. With the rise of healthy and clean living among many young people, many have resorted to drinking shakes and smoothies to keep up a healthy diet.
There are various types of blenders. Some require more energy and manual labor, while others are fully automated. To be certain that the one you buy is energy-efficient and sustainable, choose the blender that is energy-star rated and perhaps smaller in size.
Sustainable Cookware
Finally, what any eco-friendly kitchen needs is a set of sustainable cookware, and there are some excellent sustainable brands worth considering. You may need to part with some funds to maintain a sustainable and eco-friendly kitchen, as you would have to purchase stainless steel or cast iron instead of Teflon strictly. This rule does not only apply to pots and pans. It applies to kitchen utensils holistically, utensils such as knives, forks, and spoons.
A sustainable kitchen fully equipped with eco-friendly utensils and appliances is the first step to living a more healthy and sustainable life. Incest in your kitchen as the return on investment will be seen in achieving your health goals.
