For those who have been practicing Green Living, congratulations, and thank you from everyone who shares this planet! For the rest of us, we can start somewhere, and it isn’t as time-consuming or difficult as you may think.
In our first article, we will start with some of the easiest and least expensive methods to begin reducing our wasteful ways, as well as giving some tips for more advanced Green Living for those who have already been making a difference.
Here are a few simple starting points:
 1. Replace as many light bulbs as possible with fluorescent. Choose a wattage that will give you plenty of light to make your work areas comfortable. Good lighting helps you work more efficiently, and tire less easily. There are several light qualities to choose from, such as basic fluorescent, soft white, or daylight, and the bulbs are now available in floodlights, dimmables, and even yellow bug lamps! Fluorescent bulbs last substantially longer if you turn them on for a minimum of 2-3 hours at a time. Constant switching on and off is actually not energy efficient and considerably shortens the life of fluorescent bulbs.
2. Buy Energy-Star Appliances, which run 10-50% more efficiently than standard appliances. This will save you money on your energy bills, too! Locate special offers and rebates in your zip code at www.energystar.gov. If your old appliances are in good working order, donate them to an organization such as Habitat for Humanity (www.habitat.org) instead of discarding them.
3. An Energy-Star dishwasher uses less than half the energy of a regular dishwasher, and can save almost 5,000 gallons of water a year when compared to hand-washing dishes. Skip the Pre-Rinse cycle if your dishwasher cleans well without it, and choose the Air-Dry selection, if possible. Run the dishwasher only when it is full.
4. A refrigerator can account for 8% of your electric bill. Use a Refrigerator Coil Cleaning Brush to clean the coils and fan regularly, and increase efficiency up to 30%! A refrigerator with an upper or lower freezer saves you 10-15% over a side-by-side. Your freezer works most efficiently when it is full. If you don’t keep your freezer stock-full of food, fill some large plastic containers with water. The ice blocks come in handy for a picnic cooler, and, in a power outage, will keep your frozen food safe longer, especially if the freezer door is not opened.
 5. Conserve water. Fix leaking faucets immediately. If you can’t get to it, put a bucket under the leak, and use it to water the plants. Do the same thing when you’re waiting for the hot water to reach the tap. If your family likes to drink cold tap water, fill a jug and leave it in the refrigerator, instead of running the water down the drain while you wait to fill a single glass. Install a faucet aerator to further conserve.
6. Avoid garbage disposals. A garbage disposal requires a flow of water and electricity every time you run it. Compost as much of your food scraps as possible. Avoid throwing food garbage in an open compost pit, as this will attract rodents, but instead, use a composting bin that is designed to keep out scavengers.
7. Run exhaust fans only when necessary. In the winter, you will preserve the warm air in your home, and in the summer, your cooling system will work more efficiently. Install your air conditioner in a shady area. Changing or cleaning the filters in your furnace and air conditioners every 1-2 months will make them more energy efficient and prolong their useable lifespan. If you have a high ceiling, install a ceiling fan, and run it counterclockwise in the winter, to bring the warm air down from the ceiling, and run it clockwise in the summer, to raise the cool air up from the floor. Clean all fan blades regularly, as a buildup of dust and grease will cause a drag on the motor, using more energy and decreasing life expectancy of the appliance.
8. When cooking on the stovetop, use the burner that best fits the pan. Choose a pot or  pan that is one inch larger than the burner you are using. Buy the best commercial cookware you can afford. A pressure-cooker can save 50-70% more energy than a regular pot. If using gas, keep the flame under the pot, and if using electric, turn off the burner just before the food is done, and the residual heat will finish cooking your dish. Use a lid!
9. Don’t preheat your oven or broiler unnecessarily, or for longer than necessary. Plan your menus. If you’re roasting, try to cook the entire dinner in the oven and avoid the stovetop. In the winter, after using the oven, prop the door open slightly to let the heat continue warming your kitchen. In the summer, take it all outside and use the barbeque grill!
10. Keep a box of baking soda in your fridge and freezer to absorb odors and maintain a fresh scent. After 3 months, replace with a new box. Take a half-cup of the old baking soda and pour it down your drain, followed by an equal amount of white vinegar, and then some boiling water. This will break down the fatty acids that may be coating your drain, and wash away old food smells.
 11. Avoid using harsh chemical cleansers by cleaning up on a regular basis, each time you prepare food or cook. If the dirt and grime doesn’t get too heavy, a mild natural cleanser will do the job. Try using a small amount of baking soda on a damp cloth. A clean and well-maintained appliance will last longer and run more efficiently.
12. Use a dustpan and brush instead of a vacuum for small spills. Save up reasonably clean, used paper towels to dampen again and clean up your floor spills. Throw the twice-used paper towels into your compost bin.
13. Use olive oil to take finger marks off stainless steel. Use a small container of white vinegar to soak the lime and calcium deposits off of your aerator. Then mix olive oil with the white vinegar (one part vinegar to three parts olive oil) and use it for a floor polish.
14. Wash windows with an equal part of vinegar and water in an old spray bottle, and wipe them with crumpled newspaper for a clean shine. Throw the used newspaper into your composting bin.
15. Minimize your trash. Reuse and Recycle. Choose cans and glass bottles when purchasing food at the grocery store instead of plastic. Re-using the glass bottles is  preferable to recycling them, as even the recycling process requires energy as glass is remanufactured into something else. Aluminum cans are especially valuable to the recycling chain, as well as aluminum foil. Please rinse first, and remove paper labels. Plastic can be recycled, but at present, demand for recycled plastic has not kept up with the amount of plastic being discarded. Try to reduce the items you buy that come in plastic bags and bottles, and reuse what you can.
Do you have more Living Green in the Kitchen tips? We’d love to hear from you and add your tips to our next article. Click on our link and list your ideas!
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