Are you concerned about your homes impact on the environment? Most of us use reusable bags at the supermarket, separate out rubbish into waste and recycling, use energy saver lights and are conscious about our water use. So why not continue this way of thinking in our kitchens? The Truth is, every kitchen in Australia contributes to our country’s environmental load, but there are things we can do to help.

The first thing you can do is install environmentally friendly benchtops. When selecting benchtops we need to keep in mind the impact our choice will have on the environment. If you want a timber benchtop, make sure it is approved by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to ensure that you’re not contributing to the decline of old growth forests. You could also source the timber locally, saving it from being transported a long way. Bamboo is an eco-friendly alternative to hardwood, it’s eco-friendly, fast growing, durable and longer lasting than many other timbers. Another sustainable material is stainless steel. According to the Australian Stainless Steel Development Association it is made up of 60% recycled content including reclaimed scrap and industrial scrap. It is a long lasting material and can be 100% recycled when you are finished with it.

You can easily save more water in your kitchen. Purchase a low-flow aerator to attach to your kitchen tap. This will mix air into the water stream so that you use less water without affecting the pressure. You should also use your dishwasher. Many people hesitate in using their dishwasher to save water, when you will actually save more water if you do use it. Make sure you buy a dishwasher with a good water rating, and only turn it on when it’s full, use a lightweight setting with air dry as opposed to heat dry, and don’t pre-rinse before you put them in. If you do this you will use less water (and time and effort!) than if you wash your dishes by hand. Another way to help the environment with your water is to install a filter tap. This will save you money and reduce energy used and pollution created when making bottled water.

Another good idea is to recycle your food scraps. You can get pull out bins with dividers, which make this task even easier. You can put all of your food scraps in one section, recycling in another and waste in another. You can then use the food scraps for compost in your garden.

In most houses, kitchen appliances use up a large chunk of the household energy. We need to take this into consideration when selecting kitchen appliances. Make sure you look at the energy star rating, and choose appliances that exceed energy star standards where possible. It may be worth it to pay a little extra money for a better rating appliance, which will be saving money and the environment in the long run.

So many people want to do their bit for the environment but don’t realise how easy it is. If you are rebuilding or renovating your kitchen, keep these simple tips in mind to create a more environmentally friendly space and go green in the kitchen.

Here at Harrington Kitchens we work with your to create the perfect kitchen for you, no matter what your style is.

Harrington Kitchens offers a wide variety of kitchen designs and styles including:

For more information on our various kitchen designs, please visit our Gallery. Our Gallery brings together a selection of our custom kitchen designs ranging from traditional to contemporary kitchens. Each kitchen style has the flexibility to work in any home environment and can be designed to suit all tastes and budgets.

The entire Harrington Kitchens team is focused on designing kitchens that utilise premium materials and offer each and every customer the highest level of service. Harrington Kitchens partners with the best quality kitchen suppliers within the kitchen manufacturing industry and employs experienced and professional tradesmen to ensure the longevity of your custom designed kitchen.

For a free quote and free design consultation please contact us at Harrington Kitchens on (02) 4647 4474 or submit an online enquiry, alternatively you are welcome to visit the Harrington Kitchens Showroom at 12 Graham Hill Road Narellan NSW or 5 Old Hume Highway, Mittagong NSW.

See more great kitchen ideas in our Online Gallery.