Being sustainable stopped being an option a long time ago. It became a way of life that allows taking care of the Earth and guaranteeing there is a future. Alarms go off, from time to time, when we receive worrying information. Such as the one on the 29th of July 2021, by which time we had already drained the biological resources of that year. But the emergency to act should reflect on our daily lives in order to be effective. Each action counts.
A more ecological kitchen benefits, not only the environment, but also the entire home, often meaning cost reductions. Therefore, here are 7 tips for a renewed and environmentally more sustainable kitchen.
1 – Choose your tap well
“Less than 3 per cent of the world’s water is fresh (drinkable), of which 2.5 per cent is frozen in the Antarctica, Arctic, and glaciers. Humanity must therefore rely on 0.5 per cent for all of man’s ecosystems and freshwater needs.”[1]
When selecting your mixer tap, choose one that includes flow limiter to minimize water consumption. RODI has several mixer taps with flow limiter that reduces water flow by 50%. If your tap does not have this functionality, use an aerator, a water reduction filter. It will make a difference to the environment and to your water utility bill at the end of the month.
2 – Renew and reuse furniture
If your kitchen furniture is still in decent shape or have the possibility of being refurbished, choose to restore, or reuse them. Maybe a fresh look is all you need. A simple paint job can change entirely the look of furniture and the mood of the space. If that is the case, prefer paints without volatile organic compounds (VOCs), harmful to your health and to the environment. A quick online research will present several ideas of how it is possible to turn old furniture into authentic modern pieces and even more timeless concepts.
3 – Prefer high durability materials
Using high durability materials is the base of a sustainable kitchen based on the durability of its utensils and equipment. In what concerns sinks, the 95 years warranty RODI has allows to foresee you are acquiring a sink with great longevity. In addition, the stainless steel used to manufacture RODI sinks is 70% made of recycled material. The actual main packaging is a cardboard box, which includes between 50-100% recycled material. The sinks’ protections are produced out of 100% recycled cardboard.
4 – Choose appliances with good energetic efficiency
Regardless of the size of the equipment, always take into consideration its respective energetic efficiency. Preferably choose equipment with A+++. The initial investment is generally higher, but the far lesser consumption will make it worth it. Still in relation to energy consumption, an induction hob is more efficient than electric or gas stoves.
5 – Use smart lighting
“If people worldwide switched to energy efficient lightbulbs, the world would save US$120 billion annually.”[1]
LED lighting is 90% more efficient than other types of lighting. It is also usually more durable. Remember, lighting represents, on average, around 14% of the total energy consumption of a home.[2]
6 – Install a food waste disposer
By installing a food waste disposer on your sink, you considerably reduce the amount of waste which, otherwise, would end up in organic waste. Using a food waste disposer sends this waste directly to the sewer system. Thus, sending it for treatment in wastewater treatment plants.
7 – Plant your own vegetable garden
Take the opportunity that you are renewing your kitchen and save a space to plant some aromatic herbs or even small vegetables that can come in handy. Besides being an incredible food benefit, these small gardens also play an extraordinary decorative function.
When choosing the materials to renew your kitchen, always consider the environmental, social, and economic impact, from production until disposal.
Learn here how to implement the 5 Rs policy in your kitchen.
Also read the RODI sustainability report.
[1] https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-consumption-production/
[2] Survey to Energy Consumers in the Domestic Sector, by the Portuguese National Statistics Institute
