If you’re a person who loves to cook and hang out in the kitchen a lot, then one thing that you won’t regret is upgrading and renovating your kitchen to be more sustainable. In this article, we’ll cover some smart kitchen renovation ideas that you can do for your kitchen to upgrade it eco-friendly.
1. Use energy-efficient kitchen appliances
If you want to be more energy efficient, you have to start reviewing the items that require you to use said energy in the first place. That’s why an energy-efficient kitchen should begin by changing its kitchen appliances.
Energy-efficient kitchen appliances consume less energy by design without reducing the level of performance of their not-so-energy-efficient counterparts. They use less energy but generate less energy waste while lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Since they use less energy, it’s going to reduce your electricity bills as well potentially.
If you don’t know how to gauge whether an appliance is energy efficient, look at its energy label. These labels have a grading system from G for the lowest and A to the highest to let you know how efficient their energy use is.
Do note that you should also consider the size of said kitchen appliance. Two kitchen appliances may have the same energy rating grade of an A, but if one is larger, it will still use more energy than the smaller one.
2. Choose eco-friendly materials and design
Another way you can be more sustainable with your kitchen renovations is by using eco-friendly materials and adopting design principles.
Aside from the fact that these materials don’t harm the environment, they also contribute to a better quality environment overall through the air quality. These greener materials utilize low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and finishes. Hence, they release fewer harmful chemicals into the air than traditional options, creating a healthier environment for you and your family.
An example of eco-friendly materials and design would be some reclaimed wood or recycled materials, which we’ll cover more later. Using sustainable sources of materials, like those that grow fast, like bamboo, will be an excellent choice for an eco-friendly material.
3. Use intelligent lighting solutions
Instead of just your usual lighting, consider having more innovative tech for just how you light up your kitchen.
Motion sensor lights are an example of an intelligent lighting solution for a kitchen renovation. These lights automatically turn on when someone enters the kitchen and turn off when no motion is detected, saving energy and eliminating the need to switch them on or off manually.
Another option is installing LED strip lights under cabinets or along countertops. These energy-efficient lights provide ample task lighting for food preparation and add a touch of elegance to your kitchen ambiance.
Furthermore, integrating smart lighting systems that you can control through mobile apps or voice commands allows you to adjust the brightness and color temperature and even create customized lighting scenes according to your preferences. This level of control enhances both functionality and mood-setting capabilities in your kitchen.
4. Install smart faucets and fixtures
One of the key advantages of installing smart faucets and fixtures is reducing water bill costs. These intelligent devices conserve water by automatically shutting off when not in use or adjusting the flow rate based on need.
Moreover, smart faucets and fixtures offer convenience and ease of use. You can turn the faucet on or off without touch with touchless sensors or voice-activated controls.
Aside from that, the increase in quality of life of these smart faucets comes in the form of better temperature control and personalized settings. You can preset your preferred water temperature for washing dishes or preparing beverages.
Although it’s not something you need in your kitchen, having them in there in the first place will be a huge help and will make you feel truly at home in your new kitchen.
5. Invest in energy-efficient windows and doors
When you say you will invest in energy-efficient windows and doors, it might sound unclear. So, what are energy-efficient windows and doors in the first place?
Energy-efficient windows and doors are less about using energy and more about minimizing heat loss or gain within the house. That way, you’re reducing the need for excessive heating or cooling. By effectively insulating your home, these windows and doors prevent drafts so temperatures are stable in your kitchen.
For the kitchen specifically, you want to pay special attention to kitchen doors and windows to ensure that smoke from cooking gets out of your kitchen safely. It improves air circulation in your kitchen.
6. Integrate smart technology to optimize energy usage
It isn’t easy to constantly be vigilant of how you use the energy inside your kitchen. Instead of having to do that, you can use smart technology to help make managing your energy usage in the kitchen easier.
Also, with smart tech, as long as the Wi-Fi is on, you won’t have to ask yourself whether you’ve turned off the stove when you’re out of the house. You can check your phone and turn it off through that.
Some appliances you can even set to turn on so that you have everything prime and ready the moment you come into the kitchen.
7. Use VOC-free paints, finishes, and coatings
We’ve briefly mentioned VOCs earlier, so it bears repeating that you should look into VOC-free paints, finished, and coatings for your kitchen. Again, it’s contributing to better indoor air quality simply because you don’t have those compounds to breathe in since you’re not using them.
8. Use reclaimed or recycled materials
The materials you use are another part of the renovation where you could be more energy efficient or sustainable. According to Kitchen Kraft Kitchen Renovations Sydney, using reclaimed or recycled materials is one of the best ways to be more sustainable when renovating your kitchen.
Ideally, it would be best to use materials that are also easy to access from where you are located so that you aren’t increasing your carbon footprint by transferring these materials to your house from far away locations.
When you use more recycled or reclaimed materials during your renovation, you contribute as little as possible to the demand for new materials that use up resources. Plus, you give a second chance to exquisite materials for your needs.
9. Add compost and recycle bins
Food waste is an issue that you can also proactively deal with by using compost and recycling bins. That way, you can use your food waste to either serve as compost for your garden or dispose of it more responsibly.
10. Ensure optimal insulation
The kitchen’s temperature would affect some of the food you make, especially when baking. That’s why you want to ensure your kitchen has a stable temperature.
One way to do that is by investing in your kitchen insulation. You want to ensure that you have excellent insulation because that will reduce your heating and cooling bills while ensuring that your kitchen has a stable temperature so that you can make food comfortably during the summers and the winters.
Conclusion
With these smart kitchen renovations, you can enjoy a new kitchen that’s fun to cook at but is also not harming your environment during the creation of it. Consider these renovation ideas if you’re looking for ideas on what you can change up in your kitchen sustainably.
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- Source: https://usgreentechnology.com/10-smart-kitchen-renovations-for-energy-efficient-sustainable-living/
