It may be the day to wear green but your green efforts in the kitchen should span year-round. Considering the average family spends the bulk of their time in the kitchen (second only to sleeping in the bedroom), it is most certainly the heart of any home. Trying to be greener in your kitchen? Here’s a look at a few of my favorite, contemporary eco-friendly kitchen innovations that won’t break the bank.

Bamboo Flooring: Sleek and Eco-Friendly

Bamboo – If you’re anything like me (a wannabe culinarian and foodie), the bamboo cutting board is probably one of your favorite kitchen accessories. But did you know the versatile plant can be culled for far more than just a hard cutting surface in the kitchen? As one of the most significant and influential plants in the modern green movement, bamboo is used to make decorative backsplashes and flooring. Given the structural strength and hardness of the plant, bamboo flooring is not only sleeker and less “knotty” than traditional wood, it’s also denser and subsequently more resistant to warping. In addition, bamboo is more sustainable than many other woods; under optimal conditions, a bamboo stalk can grow an astonishing 24 inches in just one day. And at just $5 to $7 per square foot, you can’t beat the price.

Cork – Made from the bark off trees, cork flooring is hypoallergenic, sound-absorbing, resistant to mold and mildew, and most importantly, a renewable resource. However, while cork flooring is cushioning, it may not be the ideal flooring if you have pets or a fondness for cooking in your stilettos.

Composite Countertops – Composite countertops are typically made with recycled and/or environmentally sustainable materials, such as recycled glass and epoxy. The term ‘composite’ means it’s made of several different materials (as opposed to a solid surface) and they are a more eco-friendly alternative to conventional countertops.

If you are looking for more budget-friendly, less invasive ways to be greener in your kitchen, think of the old standbys: installing compact fluorescent bulbs, setting up recycling stations, purchasing locally, and using reusable grocery bags. Other ideas include using natural fabrics such as cotton for window dressings and linens or composting your food waste. Learn how to can tomatoes and other homegrown vegetables and purchase wooden and metal utensils (plastic ones often contain components harmful to the environment).

Can vegetables from your organic garden.

And finally, in the spirit of the holiday and the kitchen, make St. Patty’s a little greener by drinking local, organic beer (remember this post?), utilizing handmade decorations (those cheap plastic accessories and decorations usually end up in landfills come March 18^th), and using natural dye – not artificial food coloring – to dye your brewski and the kids’ eggs green!