Eco-Friendly Kitchen Remodeling

To me, remodeling is a smart idea. It’s not a good time to sell, although it might be a great time to buy. Homeowners can get a better return on their investment if they do a little upgrading instead of relocating. And if you’re going to remodel, going green is the most cost effective, healthy and earth-friendly thing to do.

Green kitchen remodeling where to start

Being the family meeting place, the kitchen is the busies room of the house and the most energy intensive. The first place to start saving energy is with new appliances. A new refrigerator uses 75% less energy than one that is 10 or 20 years old. Energy star refrigerators are 20% more efficient than federal standards. Technology is changing rapidly, and consumer demand is driving the need for more efficient appliances. New is frequently better, and the older your fridge, the more money you will save on your electric bill.

Some new energy efficient dishwashers use less water than washing by hand. They also have an energy saving or quick wash cycle that saves water and electricity. An air-dry option uses fans instead of heat for drying, again saving energy.

Also, there is nothing like natural daylight in a kitchen. Add a window or two to reduce your need for lighting during the day. If you have unpleasant views, consider skylights or tube lighting. Install CFL or LED light bulbs in fixtures to cut down on the heat thrown by incandescent bulbs.

Make room for a handy recycling and composting center so it’s for easy for your family to get involved in environmental issues. Kinds would love a worm can be used to improve your soil or act as mulch.

Green kitchen cabinets

You can make a big environmental difference with your choice of cabinets, too. Most cabinet bases are made of chipboard or plywood, which are put together with a formaldehyde binder or glue. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen. To protect indoor air quality, cabinets should be formaldehyde free. Materials using agricultural waste, such as straw board or certified plywood, use renewable materials and no formaldehyde.

Sometimes you can find used cabinets at salvage yards, yard sales, flea markets and places like habitat for humanity. Other people remodel, then sell or donate their old supplies. I’ve done that with cabinets and plumbing supplies that were in great shape but of no use to me anymore. You can truly recycle that way, and with a little elbow grease, paint and imagination, your kitchen can be one-of-a-kind

Doors and drawer fronts are solid wood. Sustainably harvested timber, bamboo, reclaimed wood or veneers are excellent choices. All paints, stains and sealers should be low-to-zero-VOC finishes.

Kitchen countertops

Counter tops can be creative, timeless and eco-friendly. One of my favorite looks is bits of recycled glass embedded in a base of non-toxic resin. It’s like a mosaic that can be monochromatic or mulch-colored. It is easy to clean and durable, and best of all, it uses recycled glass.

Wood scraps from a limber mill can be laminated together like a butcher block for a great work surface. This also keeps trash out of the landfill. Recycled materials have low embodied energy and do not off-gas toxic fumes. Recycled paper can be bound together with formaldehyde-free resin. Reclaimed wood and recycled aluminum are other sturdy, green and aesthetically pleasing choices.

Vinyl tile and linoleum floor covering

 Vinyl linoleum is not the only choice for flooring anymore there is now natural linoleum made of cork and linseed oil that does not off-gas. It is durable, comfortable and all natural. Cork flooring is another option, being made from bark. It is water resistant, sturdy and natural. Both are renewable and have no VOCs.

Increase your knowledge

Spend some time doing your homework. Home and garden shows have green building exhibits, too. Green building is becoming more and more mainstream, so information is easier to find than it was even five years ago

Also, be sure to hire a contractor that understands green building. Don’t let anyone talk you out of going green, because that usually means they don’t know anything about it. As always, work within your budget and check your covenants and building codes.

Other than that, have fun redoing your kitchen, and enjoy a smaller carbon footprint, lower energy bills and healthy indoor air.

Hardwood Flooring

Throughout history, hardwood flooring has set the standard for beauty, richness, and style in the most elegant homes. No other flooring offers the timeless quality of wood with the undeniable warmth and comfort that says “welcome home”.

Hardwood flooring is almost exclusively  manufactured from wood harvested from deciduous tree species, trees that shed their leaves in winter. Woods used in flooring are chosen for how well they wear over time, measured in terms of hardness and dimensional stability, and for color and grain ranging from the palest shade of white oak to the crimson tones of padauk or the rich burgundy black of mahogany.

The huge variety of styles, colors, and species in both solid and engineered woods makes hardwood flooring an option for any decor. While location should be considered when choosing whether to put down a solid or engineered wood, there are so many choices available that you will be able to find a floor that fits your lifestyle, your location and your style.

Care and cleaning of today’s wood flooring is quick and easy. Tedious, back breaking paste wax is a thing of the distant past. The advanced finishes on today’s floors need little more than some sweeping or vacuuming to remove any grit, and damp mopping with a simple solution of white vinegar and water for further cleaning. Occasional use of a professional wood cleaning product made especially for your floor may also be recommended. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for details.

A Word About Sustainability and Value

The watchword today is “green.” People often ask about the sustainability of wood flooring and how its purchase will affect the Earth’s delicate rain forests. Deforestation is due to irresponsible, illegal logging practices, and you have the power to do something to stop it. Every piece of flooring that is farmed and logged responsibly will carry a certificate of compliance with the Lacey Act. If you find flooring that doesn’t, don’t buy it. It’s that simple. To make a difference, buy certified wood.

Consider this: when you purchase a quality wood floor, it can last several lifetimes, and when your great grandchildren or their children finally decide it’s time for new flooring, the boards can often be removed, re-milled, and reused for a new purpose.. .and possibly another hundred years of use. Wood offers the ultimate in sustainability and value, because when you purchase quality wood, you’re buying a century worth of floor. When compared to frequent replacement cost of any other flooring, longevity alone is well worth the initial outlay and no

other flooring raises the value and saleability of your home like warm, natural wood.
 

Modern Home with Wood Floors

The late 1980s saw the rise of pre finished woods and a return to the clean, classic look of wood planking without the intricate patterning of parquetry. Due to the way the pre finished wood planking was constructed, splintered edges were common. Today’s manufacturing process produces smoother, more durable flooring, far superior to flooring available in the past. Unfinished wood floors are also available that can be finished on site after installation for a more even and impenetrable surface.

Some controversy exists regarding environmental issues of hardwood. Most of the issues center on unethical logging practices that threaten the old- growth forests that produce most of the world’s oxygen supply. At first glance, hardwoods, which take 30 years or more to mature, may seem to lack sustainability. However, considering that some hardwoods are reclaimed and recycled, and installed and cared for properly, hardwood flooring can last a century or more, the question of sustainability is reduced to one of ethical harvesting.