1. Recycle aluminum cans, glass, and plastic. Your municipality should have a recycling program. If they do not, look to local non-profits. Chances are there is one that recycles.
2. Check the energy efficiency of your appliances. If your refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, and freezer are more than 15 years old, consider upgrading. Appliances today are more energy efficient than they have ever been. Check with your local officials, some municipalities offer rebates or incentives for purchasing energy efficient appliances.
3. Turn off the WATER! If you are not directly using it, turn it off. It will save water and cut down on your water/sewage bill.
4. Compost kitchen scraps. Vegetable/fruits peels, discards, egg yolks, coffee grounds and filters can all be composted right out of your back door.
5. Grow your own herbs. If you have a window sill in your kitchen, you can grow your own herbs. Most store bought herbs travel thousands of miles before they end up in your store. Fresh parsley, cilantro, oregano, and basil are the perfect starter garden. While cooking, just snip what’s needed and go! Fresh herbs taste better and their nutritional/herbal properties are higher than dried herbs and what’s more greener than growing your own herbs to make a green kitchen.
6. Buy Local. Place a 100 mile restriction on the food you buy. Buying this way not only boosts the local economy, your food is fresher, the nutritional content is higher and it tastes better.
7. Open your windows. Natural light is the best way to light a room. You’ll use less electricity.
8. Keep your dishwasher clean. Just like a car runs better after a tune up, so does your dishwasher. Clean out the food trap in the bottom of the appliance, run and empty load with white vinegar. Also, run the dishwasher ONLY when it is FULL. Running a half full load wastes electricity and water.
9. Use natural cleaners/cleansers to clean counters, appliances, cabinets and floors. Vinegar and baking soda (used alone and combined) can be used to clean your entire kitchen and does  a good job as well. By not polluting the environment with harsh chemicals is the best way to have a green kitchen.
10. Use manual tools whenever possible. A hand turned can opener uses no electricity.
11. Unplug small appliances when not in use. The toaster/toaster oven, coffeemaker and microwave all use electricity, even when they aren’t in use.
12. Stop using paper or Styrofoam plates, cups and utensils. It is less of an earthly impact to wash dishes than to serve a dinner on paper or Styrofoam products.
13. When you shop, use cloth grocery bags.
14. Limit your purchase of items with excessive packaging. This just limits what you bring into your home and helps contribute to a green kitchen.
15. And finally, lower your waste. Crush boxes, cans and the like to use less garbage bags. Less trash = less waste in our landfills.

Other green posts you might be interested in:

• What do companies mean when they say they are taking green initiatives?
• Solar Dehydrators — The easiest way to preserve fruits and vegetables
• Energy Proofing Your Windows
• Get Off the Grid With Geothermal Heating and Solar Panels!
• How Does Solar Energy Work in Your Home?