For many individuals and families, the kitchen is sort of like command central. With all of the meals, snacks and prep work that comes out of there, it's no wonder. It may be the place you enjoy a cup of coffee and piece of toast before you leave for work or where you catch up with your loved ones over dinner after a long day.

Given the amount of time and work that occurs in the kitchen, it's not a huge shock to imagine it would be one of the least eco-friendly rooms in the home. Then there is also the fact that the kitchen often contains more energy-sucking appliances than any other room in the house. Think about: stove, oven (which yes, are often one appliance but can run as two), refrigerator and typically a microwave and a dishwasher. And those are just the main appliances! That's not taking into account smaller items like your coffee maker, coffee grinder, toaster, blender, food processor and, well you get the picture. Not exactly the picture of earth-friendly living, is it?

There are measures you can take however to at least reduce the footprint of your kitchen. Some cost money, others just involve being more conscientious about the decisions you make when working in there.

Energy-Efficient Appliances
Nobody expects you to go out and furnish your kitchen with brand new appliances that use less energy than your current ones. Most of us don't have the type of disposable income to afford such luxuries on a whim. However the next time one of your appliances dies with little more than a pathetic whimper and has no hope of being fixed, consider replacing it with energy-efficient brand and model.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy have worked together to develop the Energy Star program, and bestow a label identifying household protects that meet energy efficiency guidelines on qualifying products (if you're really ambitious and house-hunting, whole homes now come with the Energy Star label). The program has criteria for dishwashers and refrigerators, as well as a manufacturers list so you have a head-start when you need to begin appliance shopping. They even offer purchasing tips and FAQs so you can be well-researched before you buy.

Canada also has an Energy Star program with a list that includes home appliances, office equipment, lighting and signage, commercial and industrial products and windows and doors.

Kitchen Composter
It's true the standard composter is located in your backyard, however some companies actually offer composters that can be kept on your kitchen floor, in a cupboard, hung inside a door or even placed on the counter. Before you start imagining the various aromas that might bring, be assured that these composters come with features that prevent odors.

Lee Valley Kitchen Compost Pails are available in two sizes (though the large pail is only $1 more than the smaller version), as well as packages of replacement filters. A charcoal filter absorbs the aforementioned odors. Alternatively, the NatureMill composter can be used indoors or outdoors and mixes, heats and aerates your scraps. It even has a handy red light that comes on every two weeks to remind you to remove your compost fertilizer. There's even a pet-friendly model that not only composts food, but your pet waste, cat litter and cage beddings.

Recycling
Recycling glass bottles and soda cans may be a given thanks to the incentive of some extra pocket change you receive in return for taking them into your local depot. However so much of what we use in the kitchen can be dropped off to local recycling locations. Set up a system that works for you. Tired of using multiple small bags for empty bottles and cans, a couple of years ago the Bean household purchased another large trash bin to put next to the garbage for those. A few smaller stackable blue bins round out system: tin cans go in one, cardboard from food packaging goes in another and glass jars in yet another. Having an organized area means there is no temptation to be lazy and toss a perfectly recyclable item into the garbage when it comes time for disposal. Since they are also sorted, you won't have to deal with that at a later time either. When they are full, the bins are easily loaded into the back of the vehicle and taken to the local drop-off. If you are fortunate enough to have curbside recycling, it's even simpler!

Coffee grounds
There is almost nothing - nothing - better than that first sip of coffee in the morning (spoken like a true addict). Passion for your daily caffeine fix one thing, what you do with your leftovers is another story. Forget about tossing your grounds in the garbage because there are several useful purposes for them in and around the home. Coffee grounds are a good source of nitrogen, a nutrient that makes them a great garden fertilizer. You can include the grounds in your compost pile or simply spread them around your plants prior to watering them or a good rainfall. You can also mix them right into the soil of your household plants or the soil of new vegetables. For natural pest control, surround the base of a plant with grounds and eggshell barriers to repel the pesky little creatures.

Manual appliances
Certain appliances such as your toaster and coffeemaker require electricity and there aren't many alternatives available. However, what about small, seemingly-innocent counter-top appliances like an electric can opener? While it may not suck a ton of energy compared to say, the refrigerator, it's also not completely necessary either. Society can't really be at a point where the mere thought of having to use a manual can opener is far too strenous to handle. It certainly doesn't save time, and if it does, it's mere seconds. And when you consider all of the occasions you open cans during the week, they start to add up to one eco-unfriendly tool.

Grab an old-school opener and other manual appliances that don't actually require the use of a motor to fulfill their purpose.

Towel off
Paper towels are super-convenient when you experience such thinks a spills, however with each one hitting the trash can after a single use, they aren't very earth-friendly. Switch to reusable cloth dish towels that you can wash after use. You can also keep a handful of older rags under the kitchen sink so the next time a bigger spill does occur, you don't have to sacrifice your nice towels.

If you do need to have some paper towels around, try to find ones that are made of 100% recyclable material and use them sparingly.

Reusable containers
Packaging up the leftovers from dinner? Don't use zip-top bags you'll be tempted to toss because it's too much effort to wash them out. Instead fill dishes or lidded containers with food, then wash them out for re-use once they have served their purpose. Likewise, if you're packing snacks for work or the kid's lunches, try to use reusable containers to save on the amount of waste generated by bags.

On that note, use real utensils whenever possible and avoid the plastic ones.

Clean Green
Kitchen surfaces have to be wiped down more frequently than in any other room in the home. Not to mention there is definitely a desire to keep the space as sanitary as possible. After all, you are preparing meals for yourself and your family. If you haven't already made the transition to earth-conscious cleaning products, now is the time to start. These products are often biodegradable, non-toxic and free from the chemicals found in high quantities in typical cleaners.

You don't need to go far to start looking for these products, nor do you have to pay a fortune. Clorox produces a line of products called Green Works; the naturals contents of the products are made from plant and mineral-based ingredients that are over 99 per cent biodegradable.

» Ecollo (The Green Kitchen)