August 4, 2011

Green Kitchen Tips: Filtered Water and More

Happy World Water Week, when we think about drought, pollution, rising utility bills, and dirty beaches!

Let’s see. You buy organic foods. You recycle. You’ve completely decreased your paper towel usage. (I’m still working on that one. Ahem.) Maybe you even compost? What are some other steps you can take to become more eco-friendly in the one room many of us spend a decent chunk of time in? I found some really easy ways to decrease your “dietary footprint” in the kitchen on thedailygreen.com. Here are some great green kitchen tips:

• Ditch the Bottles — Well, DUH. This is the FilterForGood website, isn’t it? Use what comes out of your tap and get a good filter to boost its purity.
• Buy Local — Reduce unnecessary food shipments by purchasing products from surrounding areas.
• Dispose of Disposables — Use actual dishware instead of single-use containers. I know it’s not as easy, but the resources saved will really add up!
• Get a Green Thumb — Add some plants around your kitchen. They can help rid the air of toxins that might be created by cooking.
• Eat Less Meat — Modern meat is energy- and resource-intensive, and factory farms are huge polluters. Eating lower on the food chain reduces those problems.
• Use Your Appliances Wisely — Unplug unused kitchen devices and get an energy audit on your appliances.
• Cook! — Plan meals ahead of time so you aren’t scrambling to pick up something convenient, which is likely to be less healthy and wrapped in more packaging.

What are some of your tips for going green in the kitchen? The easier, the better!