At the heart of every home is the kitchen. We all have an image of a perfect kitchen, whether it be a minimalist vision in stainless steel or the romantic dream of a cat snuggled next to the Aga, a pot of soup bubbling on the hob and a cosy chair pulled up to the range. But, no matter what kind of kitchen you have in reality, there is one thing that it will have in common with most others – it is the location of many of the home’s most energy-guzzling appliances and some of our least environmentally friendly habits. So it is a great place to start if you are keen to go green.

It does not take much to make a difference – you could make big changes by replacing your appliances with greener versions or doing away with them altogether, but changing the way in which you use your kitchen is just as important, especially when it comes to water and energy.

Appliances

Most people’s kitchens in the developed world are crammed with appliances. Fridges, freezers, washing machines, dishwashers, tumble dryers, ovens and microwave ovens are common even in small kitchens for just one or two people. Obviously, they have become essentials for many of us and the thought of losing them fills us with dread and horror – so don’t worry, we are not about to suggest a return to the good old handwashing days of yesteryear. But the way in which we use our appliances and the type of product we buy can still have a massive impact on the environment as does what we do with them when they are no longer working. Of the over 5,000,000 tonnes of used electrical and electronic goods thrown away each year in the US, for example, large domestic appliances, such as washing machines, fridges and cookers make up 35,000 tonnes – 8 million units. So disposing of them carefully and preferably recycling them is a priority.