The Low Down On Green Living
October 13th, 2008
3 Ways to Green Your Kitchen And Save Money NOW
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Need to tighten your belt in these tough economic times? Usually, we think green makeovers cost a lot upfront — only yielding savings later on. But going green doesn’t necessarily mean a slow return on investment! ShopSmart, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, names five steps for greening your kitchen in its Nov. 2008 issue — and here are the 3 of those steps, revamped to show how they can save you money ASAP:
1. Install a faucet aerator. A simple $3 - $11 aerator can save you much more in water bills, as ShopSmart points out. You can, of course, go the whole nine yards and order snazzy-looking faucets with aerators — and if you do so, make sure you get a lifetime warranty that goes with it — but the EPA doesn’t have any criteria for low-flow kitchen faucets yet, and in any case, we’re talking about saving money NOW, not spending it. Find sink aerators here.
2. Switch to CFL bulbs. Regular incandescent bulbs create two eco-problems. First, they’re inefficient and take a lot of energy to light up. Second, they produce a lot of heat — prompting you to turn on the AC to use up even more energy! So swap out those bulbs to CFLs. Since the quality of CFLs vary, ShopSmart recommends making sure you can return your purchases so you’re never stuck with sub-par lighting.
We here at Low Impact Living also recommend you investigate LED lighting– LED lights are more than 1-2 times more efficient than CFLs! And they now come in a wider array of shapes and styles. Check out LED lighting here.
3. Go pre-loved. Not only will hunting through Craigslist, swapmeets, and second-hand stores turn up vintage treasures, your efforts will likely save you a lot of money! Besides, a lot of new furniture offgasses all manner of toxic chemicals, so buying used will keep you healthier as well. You can also find slightly used Energy Star appliances, which will save you money on your power and water bills.
Click here to learn more ideas on how to Green Your Kitchen. And if you’ve got other tips on saving money while greening your kitchen, please share them with the rest of us in the comments!
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Comments
Greg
October 13th, 2008 at 9:33 am
With regards to installing a low flow aerator keep in mind there are various levels of water saving aerators. Typical low flow aerators start at 2.5 gallons per minute but go as low as .5 gallons per minute. They typically cost the same and can be found at any local hardware store.
Siel, green LA girl
October 13th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Good point, Greg
Thanks for sharing that tip!
Jamie
October 13th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Can you put an aerator and a filter on the same faucet? It seems kinda bulky but it would be worth it. Has anyone done this?
Ask Green Irene
October 14th, 2008 at 10:40 am
If you are remodeling your kitchen, keep your fridge away from hot areas such as your stove, dishwasher or direct sunlight. Also, make sure your fridge is at a good temperature; 37-40F is actually the idea temperature to store food. A few more easy ways to keep lower your fridges energy consumption are: clean the coils twice a year, keep your fridge and freezer full so less warm air gets in when opened, and cover your food before you store it.
John
October 14th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I bought a bunch of those CFL Bulbs, but my wife won’t let me use them. She is a cancer survivor and is concerned with the radiation. Of course I’m not.
Reeb
October 14th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
you can get nearly everything for a kitchen makeover at your local Habitat for Humanity ReSTORE. They sell donated used materials including cabinetry, countertops, even the sink! Keeps these items out of landfills and supports a good cause.
Carla
October 15th, 2008 at 12:19 am
Its not remodeling, but using homemade cleaning products does gradually cut costs.
Siel, green LA girl
October 15th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Reeb — Shopping from Habitat for Humanity’s a great idea — very fitting since today’s Blog Action Day too!
Carla — Agreed that baking soda and vinegar can work wonders on the cheap
At the very least, buying concentrated versions of green cleaning products can help stretch the dollars too.
Ashley Howard
October 15th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Green cleaning products are another way to help cut costs and green the kitchen. Avoid single-use items such as paper towels and use a dish rag instead. If you need to use paper towels, buy products made from recycled paper.
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