If the kitchen truly is – because the saying goes – the guts of the house, then it’s extra important that or not it’s eco-friendly! Kitchens are one among the foremost overwhelming areas of a house to style or renovate because there are such a large amount of items and materials to decide on then many options to settle on from.
You may end up wondering which is that the greener option – choosing a second-hand or a greenhorn energy-efficient stove? Are all-natural countertops more sustainable than a composite made of recycled materials? And is it okay to put in a vintage light fixture if it uses more energy than a recently manufactured one?
How do I do know you have got these questions? Because I’ve got them too! With our sustainable home build quickly approaching, it’s time to require all the research I’ve done over the years and use it to create some decisions. My hope is that every one the digging and thinking I’ve done will make your own goes after an eco-friendly kitchen easier.
Eco-Friendly Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color and elegance is maybe the defining feature of a kitchen’s look, but I might never choose custom kitchen cabinets based solely on aesthetics. Especially because you’ll be able to get almost any look while also being eco-conscious.
Key things to appear for when attempting to find green kitchen cabinets are their material, their finish, and the way they were manufactured. Search for cabinets made of sustainably sourced wood or recycled content. Also, make certain any cabinets you’re considering are formaldehyde-free. Low or no-VOC paints should be the finish for eco-friendly cabinets. You ought to also ask the maker or supplier how the cupboards are built to make sure environmental impact was taken into consideration during the manufacturing process.
Eco-Friendly Countertops
Ensure that you’re getting your countertop from a sustainable source if you prefer the design of natural materials like stone and wood. As an example, a wood countertop should be FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Certified, meaning it came from a sustainably managed forest. Countertops made up of reclaimed wood or from a quick-growing wood like bamboo are another green choice.
As for stone, while it’s a natural product, extracting stone and turning it into countertops uses lots of energy and water. The foremost environmentally friendly “stone countertop” isn’t actually a stone in any respect – it’s a mineral. Made of ground quartz and resin are Quartz countertops. Committed to preserving the environment and have received both Greenguard and LEED approval is the quartz surfaces company Caesarstone.
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Eco-Friendly Appliances
If the kitchen is that the heart of the house, then the appliances are what keep it pumping. A kitchen without a fridge and a stove isn’t a kitchen at all. Oh, and dishwashers are nice too!
While buying secondhand appliances saves resources – just consider all the water and energy required to manufacture and ship a novel refrigerator, to not mention all the waste created – this selection will rely upon some factors. For instance, the town I live near features a used appliance store. Purchasing from an area shop like this may essentially mean creating zero additional waste. You’ll be able to also find used appliances on a local buy and sells.
Yet, buying an older appliance that isn’t Energy Star rated (or equivalent) would result in more energy employed in the future. This is often another one in all those instances where you have got to weigh your options. The maximum amount as I – and also the environment – love buying used items, I’d lean toward new Energy Star rated kitchen appliances. In long run sustainability – saving energy every day can’t be beaten.
Eco-Friendly Sinks and taps
Manufacturing them from recycled materials like aluminum, bronze, copper, and concrete is the big thing in eco-friendly kitchen sinks.
Your best bet for an eco-friendly kitchen may be secondhand if you wish to travel with a tried-and-true stainless-steel sink or an uber-trendy farmhouse-style porcelain sink. From 85-90% recycled stainless-steel scrap is what companies like Just Sinks manufacture their products.
As for faucets, these also are a good item to travel secondhand looking for – either head to head or online. But if you would like ones that are water-efficient you ought to rummage around for Watersense certification. Maybe you’ll win and find a faucet that’s both water-efficient and secondhand, but if not you’ll be able to buy new a spread of places – including Amazon!
Eco-Friendly lighting fixtures
Much like the opposite areas of the kitchen, there are several different options when searching for eco-friendly lighting. The primary is secondhand. I’ve been ready to find a lot of lighting fixtures on my local buy and sell, many of which are still new within the box. The nice thing about this feature is you’re still getting a replacement light in excellent working condition (at a reduced price!), but you’re not buying it from a store and triggering a reorder of yet one more new light.
But even as with appliances, you’ll be able to buy Energy Star-rated lighting. Lots of the Energy Star-rated lighting fixtures are pretty basic. Consider the lighting you’d find during a spec home or apartment house. I’m assuming this can be so it appeals to the most important range of individuals possible. But there are some companies like SeaGull Lighting that provide more stylish Energy Star-approved fixtures.
