Cooking Up a Green Kitchen

April 22^nd is designated Earth Day, to encourage the care and preservation of our natural resources thorough good stewardship. Kitchen remodeling is full of opportunity to go green, whether one is doing a major kitchen remodeling project or a minor one. Going green is more than just becoming more energy efficient and conserving water, it is about creating a safer, healthier home environment with forward thinking design and quality materials and craftsmanship for long lasting enjoyment. Here are some strategies to incorporate.

• Purchase energy-efficient appliances. Replace old appliances with Energy Star rated models, it can save 30% on the costs of running them. Consider an induction cooktop which reduces cooking time and ambient heat. A convection oven also cooks more efficiently.
• Use adequate ventilation. The exhaust fan should ventilate to the outdoors and be properly sized with adequate power (the further away from the cooktop, the stronger it needs to be). If you like to use appliances like an Instant Pot to cook a meal, you will want to plan to remove the cooking odors for using it, e.g. sautéing onions and removing moisture when releasing.
• Install low flow water faucets and point of use water heater. Look for a Watersense certified faucets, they can save 700 gallons of water a year. Rather than turning on the faucet and waiting for hot water to reach it, install a point of use water heater that will supply hot water on demand. Have the hot water pipes be insulated. Did you know Reverse Osmosis water filtration can waste 3-4 gallons for every one gallon of drinkable water? Consider a passive Berkey water filtration system and have a pot filler to add water to the countertop tank.
• Avoid particleboard and medium density fiberboard (MDF). Lower quality cabinets will use these which off-gas urea formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. Specify solid wood or high-density fiberboard (HDF) for your cabinetry that is forest stewardship certified and are low VOC.
• Choose eco-friendly counter tops. Quartz counters are sustainable, durable and do not require sealing.
• Include lighting design. Have ample natural light (with Low-E insulated windows) and task lighting for food prep, cooking, and washing dishes so you only need to light the space you are using. Have dimmable lighting so you can have the level of ambient lighting you need.
• Use zero VOC paint. Look for GREENGUARD Certified paint to reduce pollutants that regular paint releases into the air.
• Choose eco-friendly flooring. If you prefer tile, Daltile is lead free, though people find over time that tile is hard on the joints and is cold. Gaining in popularity is Marmoleum, a natural linoleum treated to prevent staining and scuffing which is not cold to the touch. It is water resistant, can have the look of wood or stone or a range of colors and the click and lock system negates the need for glue. If you want engineered wood, make sure the core is plywood or solid slat.

A green kitchen remodeling project provides more of a return on investment by reducing utility bills. While you may appreciate the day-to-day lower maintenance, there can be health benefits from enjoying beautiful form and function, eating more home cooked meals, and having better air quality in the home.

Happy Green Kitchen Remodeling!

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Tagged green remodeling, home remodeling, kitchen, kitchen design, kitchen remodel