Kitchen Appliances

Green Kitchen

During the holidays, the kitchen is
bustling with activities like cooking, eating
and entertaining family and friends.
Wouldn t it be nice to have a healthier,
more comfortable kitchen this holiday
season while saving money and enhancing
the environment?
Fortunately, there are lots of ways to
make green sense in the kitchen. Each
decision you make can reduce energy and
maintenance costs, improve indoor air
quality, improve health, safety and comfort,
and reduce environmental impacts.
Your kitchen will look great, work better
and give you a sense of pride that your
family will truly be at home for the holidays
in a green kitchen.
Appliances, lighting and
water use
The average kitchen uses as much as 40
percent of a home s total energy. By
selecting energy-efficient appliances and
lighting, you can save money on utility bills
without sacrificing features, style or
comfort.
* Look for the ENERGY STAR label
when buying a new refrigerator,*
dishwasher or other kitchen appliance.
ENERGY STAR products meet strict
energy efficiency guidelines set by the
EPA and United States Department of
Energy. Many appliances also carry
yellow Energy Guide labels to help you
select energy efficient products.
* Light fixtures are also increasingly
carrying the ENERGY STAR label.
Make sure the fixtures are sized properly
and positioned to put light where you
need it. Adding high-performance
windows and skylights can also give you
lots of efficient, healthy, natural daylight!
* Good ventilation is also a key part of a
healthy kitchen. The Wisconsin Energy
Star Homes program has excellent
standards for ventilation, combustion
safety and indoor air quality. In the
kitchen, make sure your ventilation
equipment is sized properly and
exhausts to the outside.