Use Your Dishwasher to Go Green!

I always suspected that running a full dishwasher was more environmentally friendly than hand-washing. And now I have proof: Epicurious told me so!

Appliances might seem energy-intensive, but running the dishwasher when it's completely full is actually more energy- and water-efficient than hand washing. For an extra green measure, skip the heated dry cycle and let your dishes air-dry.

This from an article and video offering from the magazine by author and Better Homes & Gardens editor Danny Seo who offers up several suprisingly easy tips for greening up your kitchen. There’s tips on countertop and sponge cleaning, acceptable kitchen paints and this little snippet on choosing countertops that is not so easy, but is deeply interesting:

Choosing kitchen countertops is tricky business because many of the options can be harmful for you as well as the environment. For instance, granite is mined deep from the earth's surface (scarring the land and leading to erosion) and may emit high levels of radon gas into your home. Fortunately, there is an eco-friendly option: countertops made of recycled glass mixed into concrete. This durable composite doesn't require mining, uses mostly recycled materials, emits zero VOCs, and when tested for radon emissions, gets the lowest possible score. In addition, using this type of countertop can contribute to LEED certification—Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a green building rating system. Recycled-glass-and-concrete countertops are available in a variety of styles and colors. Two of Seo's favorite sources are IceStone and Vetrazzo.

There’s lots more in the piece, as well as lots more to the series. You can find it all on the Epicurious Web site here.