There are many ways to improve the efficiency of your kitchen to help the environment.
With the rise of energy-saving technology and the battle to improve climate change, there are many options available to make your kitchen a greener working space.
Energy & Power Source
It can be difficult to work out which is better gas or electric? There are many pros and cons for both energy sources and a lot of it can be completely dependent on your workplace and how you use the fuel.
Both are sourced from fossil fuels or burning coal, so the most energy-efficient way of using your energy is to only turn on your appliance when they are needed. The greener option is to invest in a stove or cooker that advertises the longest lifespan allowing you to save on resources and extra parts from repairs.
Gas
Many kitchen staff use gas as this provides instant heat for cooking their food and doesn’t waste as much heat energy as other types of fuel. To maximise the efficiency of a gas cooker, shop around for an appliance with the lowest BTU (British Thermal Unit) output as these will restrict the amount of heat emitted when in use.
Not only will this reduce the amount of energy you are using but it will also heavily reduce your energy bills, making it more environmentally and economically friendly.
Electric
When considering an electric stove, review the specification to see if it uses induction elements. This ensures that the conversion of electromagnetic energy to heat is directed straight to the saucepan, leaving the rest of the cooker as cool as possible. It is important to note that these models require specific induction metal pots and pans.
Utensils and Appliances
While top-quality kitchen equipment is usually more expensive, they tend to last a lot longer than if you buy them cheap.
There are some brands and manufacturers that are known more than others for used products ending up in landfill as opposed to being recycled. Take a look at online reviews and advice when it comes to the longevity of a product and whether they’re recyclable.
Investing in high-quality knives is also beneficial towards a greener kitchen as these can be sharpened by hand reducing the amount of energy needed for this.
A common and convenient aspect of the kitchen is to bulk-buy blue kitchen role. This is a widely recyclable material, however, if you want to really revolutionise your kitchen, it is much more efficient to use long-lasting cloth towels.
Depending on your establishment, whether it’s an electronic whisk or a microwave that is commonly used in your kitchen, reviewing the energy performance before purchasing is a great way to ensure top performance. When you next replace your appliances look for the energy-star rating to provide an energy-effective replacement.
Local Produce
Local stock is always a great way to support your local stockists and reduce the amount of pollution caused by shipping in foreign foods.
Particularly with fruit and vegetables these are extremely seasonal and can be seen as a suitable option to import these from countries like Spain and Chile, however, the air pollution created by flying them over is huge.
Many establishments import organic foods from abroad however these spoil a lot quicker than those that contain preservatives. Most places buy in bulk too so the likelihood of these organic products all being used is extremely slim and therefore go to waste.
These are just some of the ways that you can encourage an eco-friendly work environment and there are many other ways to improve the efficiency of your kitchen.
Take a look at some of our vacancies to see which establishments may offer an eco-friendly work environment here.
