Renew My Home Blog

Energy Efficiency and Eco Friendly Meet in the Kitchen

The eco friendly movement has made its way to the kitchen.  The place where guest socialize and family meals are shared is also the room that generates 40% of your home’s energy bill.  More homeowners than ever are interested in making their kitchens greener.  A complete green overhaul of your kitchen would cost you between $10,000 and $50,000, with the majority of that going towards countertops, flooring and cabinetry.  Most of us can’t afford to scrap what we have and start fresh, but some smaller, less costly improvements may help your kitchen be greener and save you some money.

Water Conservation

Between cleaning, washing, prepping and soaking there is a lot of wasted water.  While most of us try to not let the water run, sometimes you just can’t help yourself.  Waiting for the water to heat up to do the dishes or soak dirty pans seems to be an inevitable process.  However, there are instant water tanks that are small and go under the sink that can dispense water at a desired temperature without having to waste water to achieve the preferred temperature.  They hold about 5-10 gallons of water and may help save you money on your energy bill.  Faucet aerators can also be used on your kitchen sink, which provides your faucet with various intensities of pressure.  The various pressures allow you to fill up your pasta pot quickly but then switch modes so you can wash your dishes with less pressure so you don’t have water splashing everywhere.

A solar hot water tank, on the other hand, can provide your family with up to 75% of your home’s annual water.  Using the sun’s energy, hot water is generated for your home and can be used in conjunction with your current hot water heater.  These solar hot water tanks come can hold 80-105 gallon of water depending on the size.

Appliances

Taking a look at your appliances and what you use them for can allow you to swap out energy hogs with new energy saving models.  Refrigerators that are over 10 years old, account for 15% of the electricity bill.  Upgrading to a more energy efficient model will save you money.  The newer fridges also have pull out drawers that allow you to grab what you need quicker and not waste energy by having door open for a long period of time.  In addition to upgrading, downgrading to smaller appliances may also help you save money.  If all you use your microwave for is reheating leftovers and making popcorn, you may be able to downgrade to a model that is smaller and uses less energy.  

Reconfiguring the layout of your kitchen can also save you money.  If applicable, relocate your fridge or stove so they are not next to one another.  The heat from the stove can heat up your fridge and freezer, causing your fridge to work harder to cool down and making your energy bills go up.  Also, the stove vent should be close to an outside wall to minimize heat loss.

Lighting

With the summer just starting, the sun is out even after the last dish has been washed from dinner.  Try adding skylights or a window behind the sink.  This allows more natural light to come in and minimizes the need to turn on the lights while prepping and cooking.  It can also open up the room and make it feel bigger and more inviting.  Upgrading to energy efficient light fixtures, such as dimmers, and fluorescent light bulbs can also help save you money.  Avoid recessed can lighting as it can create condensation problems in addition to increased heat loss.  

Storage

Clean out your kitchen and keep only what you use.  Chances are if you haven’t used it in the last few years, you probably never will.  De-cluttering can give you a sense of peace and help you locate what you are looking for more quickly.  Try cleaning out underneath your sink or in your pantry.  With the extra room, you can add more trash bins to make recycling even easier.  By separating it from the start, you eliminate having to sort through the recyclables outside.

Whether you are considering a major kitchen overhaul or adding just a few minor green improvements, you can save money on your energy bill in addition to making your home a little greener. 

Don’t forget to check out our home improvement resources that provide vital home improvement information, such as the new leads laws, detailed explanation of the tax credits and residential solar technology.