Help
Sign In
RSS Feed
|
Go Green in the Kitchen:Inukshuk said Oct 22, 2007, 5:34 PM: |
||
|
Here are some things you can do in your kitchen, to stop global warming. These suggestions are from the British Channel 4 website: http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/E/environment/help_1.html . Tips for being green in the kitchenQuick tips Don't overfill the kettle If you're making tea for one, only use that amount of water. If you're making tea for two, use that amount and so on. Overfilling the kettle wastes needless energy. Don't waste food This might seem like an obvious point, but a survey by Braun found that YUBBIES (Young Urban Bin Baggers) waste £865m of food every year by letting it go stale or out of date. One in six people wastes more than 10% of their average £42 weekly groceries shopping. Salad and fresh vegetables are the most likely items to be thrown away. Eat your leftovers The Braun survey also showed that people in the UK no longer keep leftover food for another meal, preferring to bin it or feed it to the dog instead. Let food cool down before refrigerating it This saves energy. Also, only keep the fridge door open for as long as you need to. Make your own lunch Not only will this save you a lot of money, but also you'll use less packaging than a sandwich shop. Only wash full loads in the washing machine Only ever wash full loads of clothes instead of half loads to save water and energy. Replace ordinary light bulbs with energy efficient ones They might cost more initially, but they last much longer and are significantly better for the environment. Recycle As well as buying recycled products, get in touch with your local authority to find out about recycling schemes in your area. Pretty soon you'll be required to sort your rubbish anyway, so why not start now? Re-use items Bottles, carrier bags and refillable containers don't have to be thrown away - they can all be reused. Many supermarkets now offer 'bags for life'. Think twice before you put something in the bin Can it be reused or recycled? Turn the lights off when you leave a room This is one of the easiest things anyone can do - and the difference it can make to the amount of energy we consume is considerable. Use refill packs Most washing powders, liquids, fabric softeners and dishwasher products have refill packs rather than buying the large plastic bottle over and over again. More tips Buy less processed foods Processed foods are often over-packaged, so try buying more fresh items. Buy locally produced food where possible Locally-produced foods don't have to be transported, making them a considerably more environmentally-friendly option by far. Buy products with less packaging Less packaging usually means less waste - although how environmentally friendly a product is also depends on how the product was packaged and transported originally. Don't pour oil, fats and harmful chemicals down the sink or toilet Inside drains lead to a septic tank or sewer system, where water will be treated. But some chemicals and substances won't be broken down and will still end up back in the sea or rivers. Inside drains and toilets should not be used to dispose of hazardous waste or chemicals - go to your local dump where they will be disposed of properly. Dispose of your fridge properly Many old fridges contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which contribute to the hole in the ozone layer. If you need to dispose on an old fridge, contact your local authority. Grow fresh food in your garden Like locally-produced foods and products, there is no transport involved here, so you can't get much greener. Repair damaged goods Half of electrical goods that go to the dump only need minor repairs - and it will probably cost you less than buying a replacement. Reuse plastic and glass bottles and jars or take them to a recycling bank Containers like bottles and jars don't always have to be thrown away or recycled - you can reuse them, too. Separate your rubbish Recycling is going to become a bigger part of all of our lives, so why not start separating your rubbish for recycling now? Contact your local authority to find out when your nearest recycling point is - there might even be a local collection service available. Shop environmentally Books like The Good Shopping Guide list the most eco-friendly products and brands to buy. Use and buy energy efficient appliances Products like fridges and washing machines have energy labels on. Categories 'A' and 'B' are the most energy efficient and use less water. Anything rated below rating 'D' is being phased out and should be avoided - it will cost you more and will use more electricity. Use low temperatures on your washing machine This saves water and energy. |
|||
Permalink
Print
Email
|
Re: Go Green in the Kitchen:Zephyr said May 31, 2008, 1:03 PM: |
||
|
I would add use bio degradeable eco friendly washing and washing up products and household cleaning products, a lot of chemicals used end up polluting our water and oceans. |
|||
|
Re: Go Green in the Kitchen:~KES said Jun 1, 2008, 3:53 PM: |
||
|
Yours are perfect checklists. One thing I work at is not using any perfumed products. I use laundry soap and dryer sheets that are free of dyes and perfumes. I use Begley's Spot Remover for a lot of things and it is the best miracle stain remover I have tried. I don't use any aluminum products or things with that in it and it is a noticeable difference. Since dry cleaners mix everyone's clothes together and it comes back with that perfume smell, I googled and now do the dry clean at home…interesting research. Once you get used to just clean and no chemical smells clean becomes that…putting things back to as close as new each time. For shampoo, conditioner and soap I work at that not to have perfume which just covers up and gives an apparency of clean but not actual which I find at the heath food stores. I have found toothpaste (Vicco) without fluoride, and ever since using the kinds free from fluoride, I wake up in the morning without that weird taste on my tongue and no bad breath. Google up natural tooth soaps and find one that works for you. Thanks for the tips!!!
|
|||
|
|
Re: Go Green in the Kitchen:Zephyr said Jun 1, 2008, 11:54 PM: |
||
|
Kes, good to see you taking such care, apparently perfumed washing hanging on the line disorientates / confuses the bees and bumble bees another good reason not to use them. Actually the fresh air makes them smell nice anyway. |
|||
|
Re: Go Green in the Kitchen:Phoenix said Jun 2, 2008, 5:50 PM: |
||
|
Hi Everyone! |
|||
|
|
Re: Go Green in the Kitchen:Phoenix said Jun 5, 2008, 11:49 AM: |
||
|
Okay, I have watched the new channel “Planet Earth” yesterday, and I must say, that I am glad I did. This might be the format that we need for more people to go green, may it be in the kitchen or in all aspects of their lives. |
|||
