You Ask, We Answer: How Can I Make My Kitchen More Eco-Friendly?

In honor of Earth Month, we here at Calcagni Real Estate have been focusing on ways to make our Connecticut homes and yards more eco-friendly. And as we spend so much time in our kitchens–eating, socializing, doing homework, and working–our thoughts are turning toward the measures we can take to live a more sustainable lifestyle in the most utilized room in our homes. Here’s how you can make your kitchen more eco-friendly, too.

Consider an induction stove

For many years, we’ve loved gas stoves for their ease of use and quick responsiveness that makes cooking with them such a joy. And while we still love our gas stoves, induction stoves have made such incredible strides in the past few years that their responsiveness rivals that of gas ranges–even, according to USA Today, boiling 48 ounces of water in under three minutes!

While they’re often thought of as synonymous with electric smooth-top burners, induction cooktops actually don’t have burners directly below the surface like those electric burners, which– like gas– heat indirectly via radiant energy. Instead, induction cooking heats pots and pans directly using electromagnetic energy. This makes them far more precise than even gas ranges.

But how does induction heating translate to a more eco-friendly kitchen? According to USA Today, cooking with induction is “​​far more efficient to heat cookware directly instead of indirectly. Induction is able to deliver roughly 80% to 90% of its electromagnetic energy to the food in the pan. Compare that to gas, which converts a mere 38% of its energy, and electric, which can only manage roughly 70%.” Induction cooking saves energy and creates a lower carbon footprint, making it an attractive option for an eco-friendly kitchen.

While induction stoves and cooktops are popular across Europe, they haven’t yet gained the same level of popularity here in the U.S. With benefits like these, however, they may soon be the go-to choice for those who want to make their Connecticut kitchen more eco-friendly.

Make your kitchen floor more sustainable

Another way to make the kitchen in your Connecticut home more eco-friendly is to consider using more sustainable flooring when you’re renovating. Durable options like cork, bamboo, and flooring made from recycled materials can deliver beautiful-looking floors without sacrificing your goal of having a more eco-friendly kitchen. As with all products for your home, it’s always a good idea to research thoroughly into what you’re buying, and from whom. This is especially important when trying to achieve an eco-friendly kitchen, because you want to understand how the products are made, from where they’re sourced, and how they’ll be installed so you can avoid any “greenwashing” claims and actually get what you’ve been promised.

Reach for eco-friendly kitchen items

Of course, it’s not just enough to choose eco-friendly appliances or flooring in your kitchen. All the little things that we fill our kitchens with add up, too!

From reusable glass containers like mason jars to reusable silicone sandwich and storage bags that replace single-use plastic baggies, eco-friendly kitchen items can go a long way in helping to reduce how much waste we send to the landfill.

One way to save the planet and save money? Buy pantry items in bulk! You can fill mason jars–or any glass jar that you’re repurposing–with bulk rice, beans, lentils, oatmeal, flours, seeds, or dried fruit and nuts and store them in your pantry, bypassing all the plastic packaging that you often find in smaller sizes that line your grocery store shelves.

And, using utensils made of bamboo or silicone cuts back on plastic items that are so hard on the environment. Lastly, shopping at tag sales, yard sales or estate sales can be a great way to outfit your eco-friendly kitchen without generating new waste–plus, you’ll save a lot of money when you buy “gently used” or “vintage” items!

The best part about all of this? You can create an eco-friendly kitchen in your Connecticut home on a budget and time frame that works for you.