MaryS

For many years, kitchens have been just as a places to prepare meals. However, things have changed drastically and many people now recognize the importance of kitchens, especially when it comes to energy conservation. It is no wonder that many homeowners are now considering different helpful ways in making the kitchen more eco friendly. The aim is to make it energy efficient while at the same time taking away the unnecessary strain from the environment. There are many ideas that could be helpful in making your kitchen eco-friendly and the amazing thing is that you do not have to spend a lot of money to achieve this. However, the most important thing to note is that such kind of a kitchen has many benefits and will not only help reduce the impact of global warming but also help you save money in return. Here are some ideas on how to make eco friendly kitchen. Eco-friendly cleaning Traditionally, cleaning in the kitchen has been dominated by toxic products that are not only harmful to our health but also to the environment. However, today you can opt for friendlier non toxic green cleaning products that do not contain things such as phosphate. These products unlike their predecessors are biodegradable and are capable of giving you a clean shine when used for all different kinds of kitchen cleaning. You will find simple products such as baking soda, lemon and vinegar to be a very good example of eco-friendly kitchen cleaning products. Kitchen tools and accessories Another great way to make eco friendly kitchen is to install tools and accessories that are made of recyclable materials. For example, it will help to opt for stainless steel sink and faucet since this material is 100 percent recyclable and therefore makes for a very good idea if you intend to make a green kitchen. The same should extend to other fittings such as countertops, cabinets and flooring where renewable and sustainable materials are available and which can help in making your kitchen eco-friendly. Materials such as bamboo and cork are increasingly growing in popularity among many homeowners when it comes to flooring options and it will be good to consider them as well. Energy-efficient appliances You can replace your already existing appliances such as refrigerator, oven or dishwasher with new models that meet government guidelines on energy efficiency. This needs not be a tough change to make as many appliances available in the market come with Federal Energy Star Rating. Having such in your kitchen means you will have increased efficiency while at the same time cutting on the cost of operation which translates well as a wise eco-friendly move. Make sure to keep your refrigerator fully stocked as opposed to keeping it half full as this will help you use less energy. Energy-efficient lighting system Kitchen lighting can be so eco-unfriendly if you do not pay some attention to your usage. As you consider how to make eco friendly kitchen, it will be good to embrace the use of sunlight during the day and combine this with light colored materials and installations including cabinets and countertops. These will help maximize the light streaming into the kitchen from outside thus making it unnecessary to use the bulbs during the day. You should also replace energy consuming incandescent bulbs and instead opt for LED lighting which is energy efficient. There are many other ideas you should consider while making your kitchen eco friendly and these will range from eating green, garbage disposal and even painting. Some of these ideas could be costly to implement but the good news is that within a short time you will be able to see the positive effects associated with this move.

3D printers are machines that can be used to produce any kind of plastic object by following instructions from a computer. 3D printing is an additive process. So instead of cutting off material from a stock in processes like milling, grinding and turning, the object is produced by adding the precise amount of material required. The stock material used for 3D printing looks like long thin strings of plastic. This cuts out the waste that is associated with traditional manufacturing and has given birth to the concept of “green” 3D printing. A study carried out by Joshua Pearce of the Michigan Technological University shows that 3D printing is environment-friendly, saves production cost and can be a foundation for several new businesses. Here are some of the factors that are propelling the “Green” 3-D printing revolution. The Choice of Objects to Produce 3D printing is an excellent energy-efficient alternative to mass production for certain types of plastic objects. Most consumers will be able to use low-end 3D printing to make intricate objects like children’s toys; kitchen utensils like orange juicers; and garden implements like water spouts. Schools can also use these 3D printing machines to produce models and objects that aid teaching and learning. Absence of Transportation Using three dimensional printing saves transportation costs and reduces carbon emissions from planes, trains, trucks and cars. Since most of the items that 3D printers will produce are usually shipped in from China, manufacturing them at home or at a local 3D print shop will have significant impact on the environment. Eco-friendly Raw Materials There is a common belief that plastic is not “green” material. But the material used for 3D printers is an organic polymer called polylactic acid (PLA). PLA is derived from corn so it is both recyclable and biodegradable. Therefore as more people start to use 3D printing, we are going have more direct recycling that will turn plastic objects into long strings that can be fed back into 3D printers. This will eventually make household recycling more environmentally friendly than state or city-wide recycling programs. 3D Printers are Energy Efficient Joshua Pearce’s study showed that low-end 3D printers use very little power to function. They draw almost the same amount of power as a laptop. For example, an orange juicer cost just about 1 KWh to produce. And this equates to just a few cents of electricity. This is less than half of the energy that will be used when using a conventional manufacturing system. In fact, this lower power consumption gives us an opportunity to use eco-friendly solar power for 3D printers. A very small solar panel will provide enough power for household users to be able to produce several objects with electricity generated from the sun. Potential for the Future 3D printing will cut the cost of producing certain household items, medical instruments and scientific equipment by more than 50% in the near future. Printer spare parts suppliers from Artonery think that it will also create several new jobs, as people will start to open 3D printing shops and produce objects that people want and need.