Have you noticed that when you are entertaining at home, people love to congregate in the kitchen? No matter how big your living room is, your guests are crammed into your kitchen elbow to elbow, as happy as can be! In feng shui the room that people gather in has energy called, “ren chi” and is the heart of the home. So I thought that with the holiday season on our heels, this would be a good time to share my EcoChi® tips for the kitchen with you.

• Replace your sink faucet and with a low flow faucet. Some have water saving features that use 30% less water!
• Plastic is toxic for our planet and takes up to 500 years to decompose. Install a water filter system for your cooking and drinking water and avoid drinking from plastic bottles whenever possible.
• Use LOW VOC or NO VOC paints. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds which are toxic gasses that are emitted and released into the air by a wide range of products, including paints, lacquers, adhesives and carpets.
• There is now a large selection of environmentally-friendly materials available to choose from when deciding on a kitchen countertop. Some of them are unique and very beautiful like this tile made with post-consumer recycled glass and concrete. Always ask where the product is manufactured and buy locally to cut down on your carbon footprint!
• Tiles made of recycled glass are fabulous for the kitchen. There are wonderful styles and a variety of patterns and beautiful colors available. Be sure the adhesives used are formaldehyde free, low emitting *GREEN SEAL certified.
• Love a clean kitchen? Look for cleaning products that have * GREEN SEAL certification. Natural cleansers may contain white vinegar and even parsley!
• Buy local produce or grow your own to reduce your carbon footprint. Grow an herb garden on your kitchen window sill. The leaves naturally purify the air through their tiny filters; they smell good and taste great.
• Water is a precious resource so fix all leaks and update your kitchen plumbing. When purchasing a new dishwasher choose one that is **Energy Star rated.

Related: more EcoChi previously on The Alternative Consumer by guest contributor and author, Debra Duneier.