Step 1
Replace appliances with green products. Appliances that are certified by Energy Star may use up to 66 percent less energy than other products, according to Green Home Guide. Visit the Energy Star website to search for approved products.
Step 2
Improve lighting in the kitchen. Install skylights and windows if possible to use natural light. If you must use artificial lighting, choose compact fluorescent lighting, which provides excellent light conditions with minimal energy usage.
Step 3
Replace flooring and countertops with renewable materials. This Old House recommends using cork floors, a sustainable, natural material, to replace outdated flooring. For countertops, consider concrete, which is recyclable and very durable.
Step 4
Rearrange your kitchen layout. Place food preparation countertops close to windows, to provide natural lighting and reduce lighting costs. Install a compost bin near the work area to provide immediate, convenient recycling for organic materials.
Step 5
Install a new plumbing system. Green Home Guides recommends an on-demand hot water pump, which heats water electrically in order to reduce kitchen dependence on a whole-home pump.
Step 6
Ventilate your kitchen with high-efficiency exhaust fans and ceiling fans. In addition to providing natural light, windows are also a free way to increase ventilation in the kitchen area.
Source: Home Guides
