According to the US Green Building Council, 39percent of carbon dioxide emissions come from the home, and as the centre of the home, the kitchen is responsible for a large percentage of these in everyday use. The most obvious way to reduce emissions is to use less electricity and gas, but here are five ways you may not have thought of to green up your kitchen especially when updating your kitchen. Before you start choose a designer and installer that understands green / eco practices, is aware of greener products and is up to date with latest trends. Use natural products for the units and worktops chip board, MDF and manufactured worktops require a lot of processing and less green chemicals in their production. Use labels to help for taps check WRAS accreditation, wood products looks for FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) endorsement and all appliances must be energy rated shown on a label on the product. A new idea is paper worktops. Recycled paper is mixed with a natural resin such as one from cashew nut shells. The work surfaces are heat and stain resistant, plus can be made in a large range of colours and styles. You could have your own unique look with these. Use glass products where possible, those including recycled glass are best. Replace ceramic tiles with a glass backsplash, or use glass tiles on the walls. Incorporate glass into worktops. Look at glass sinks from Franke and Astracast too. Consider modern cork tiles for the floor. Instead of those cold ceramic tiles, cork is warm under foot, softer to walk on with its natural bounce. If you trip, fall, or drop something the softer nature of cark helps cushion the impact ideal for children and those accidental drops. To make harder wearing and resistant to spills the cork can be treated after installation with an acrylic sealer. You also support a an industry in decline as wine bottles have gone to screw tops. Finally choose the most energy efficient appliances and use LED lighting to cut usage and costs too.