If you are serious about reducing your energy consumption and helping the planet, the second thing to do once you've turned off your air conditioner, is to green your kitchen.
The kitchen is an energy hog in the home, largely due to the number of appliances that feed off electricity. Yet experts say that creating an eco-friendly kitchen goes beyond changing what you can see, and includes strategies such as improving air quality and eradicating the use of toxic chemicals.
Going green can have its pitfalls though, as it means asking if the products you are buying are actually as green as the manufacturer claims they are.
'We have to consider how the product is made and where [the company that makes it] disposes of its waste in order for it to be truly environmentally friendly,' said Diane Urmeneta, an interior designer with IF Collection.
Bruce Harwood, general manager of Palladio Kitchens, agreed. 'Only if they can show a certificate can you trust it. I imagine that many local suppliers would not be able to do that because their products are made in China in factories they have no control over. It might not be as environmentally friendly as you had hoped.'
Another drawback is the cost. While the quality and designs have improved in recent years and rival the more conventional products, prices for these niche items are high.