Kitchen Renovation Ideas That Are Beautifully Eco-Friendly
Are you currently planning out a fresh new look and feel for your kitchen? Why not make a leap and take the environment-friendly approach? There are plenty of reasons why people choose to go green when it comes to their home design. Here are just a few appealing reasons:
- You’ll save money on bills.
- You’ll have durable materials.
- You’ll have a unique kitchen design.
Of course, the main point of an Eco-friendly kitchen is to reduce your carbon footprint. However, it just so happens that nature-friendly designs can be stunning as well. Furthermore, they are a great focal point for conversation when entertaining friends and family.
Read on to learn the ways in which you can make your Cape Cod kitchen renovation more environmentally friendly.
Non-toxic Kitchen Cabinets
When choosing your kitchen cabinets make sure that they are formaldehyde free. Formaldehyde is a binding agent used in many kitchen materials, especially the cabinets. Unfortunately, it is also a proven carcinogen known for leaking toxins into the air and impacting your health as well.
Needless to say, you should ditch the formaldehyde in your new Eco-friendly kitchen. Instead go with cabinets described as non-toxic. The designs can be sleek and add character to your kitchen. Invisible pulls are often paired with sustainable cabinet materials to give the kitchen a more streamlined look.
Sustainable Materials
Some sustainable materials include solid wood, wood veneer, bamboo, and reclaimed wood. One thing these materials all have in common are that they are recycled or recyclable. Also, they are FSC certified (meaning the wood was harvested ethically). These materials can be used to create the body of a counter as well as cabinets.
Low VOC Products
You need to be aware of what products you are using for paints, stains, and finishes on your cabinets and counters. Go for those that have low or no volatile organic compounds (VOC). These are air pollutants that have the ability to create a photochemical smog in the air. Keep in mind that the environmentally conscious products work just as well as their toxic counterparts. For the same reason, Eco-friendly countertops are also a topic of interest these days.
Environmentally Friendly Kitchen Countertops
A countertop is considered ecological when it is recyclable, non-toxic, and made from a renewable source. Moreover, Eco-friendly countertops are rising in popularity, as people learn that they are often just as good or even superior to other materials.
Popular Countertops: Butcher block countertops are a popular non-polluting countertop choice. However, it is prone to drying out and cracking. For this reason, many people choose quartz instead. It requires no maintenance and is nearly indestructible. Other renewable sources can imitate popular designs and materials and are very durable and low maintenance. Check out the endless styles for marmoleum, concrete, bamboo, or natural quartz.
Recycled Countertops: Furthermore, countertops made out of salvaged materials like stainless steel, wood and paper are surprisingly sturdy and heat resistant. Meanwhile, other stylish countertops made out of recycled glass, tile, paper and plastic not only saves the planet, but your wallet as well.
Cost Effective Lighting
Do you know what else will save you money and reduce your carbon footprint? Eco-friendly lighting. Furthermore, the lighting can impact your overall mood and comfort level. Therefore, you should put considerable thought into the lighting when planning a kitchen remodeling job.
Natural Lighting: A significant amount of natural lighting in the kitchen is an ideal to way to save money. With less need for artificial lighting, you can save energy and also enjoy the benefits of sunlight exposure, such as a stronger immune system. Not to mention it opens up the kitchen and gives it a stunning glow.
Fluorescent Lights: If natural lighting is in short supply, you can still save money by using 32-watt compact fluorescent light bulbs. These bulbs last for 10,000 hours which saves you between $30 and $40 as opposed to the 100-watt incandescent light bulbs. Furthermore, fluorescent bulbs use 50% to 90% less energy, which will have a significant impact on your electric bill.
LED Lights: LED lights work in the same way as compact fluorescent lights. In fact, they are just as energy efficient (if not more so) and last 3 times as long. Furthermore, LED lights come in all sorts of fun sizes and shapes such as elegant pendant lights. However, the decreased usage of energy is what makes them the real winner.
Energy Efficient Appliances
Similarly, appliances that use less energy are winning these days. That's because they use much less electricity and water. While fridges with the label can help to give you peace of mind, not all appliances can be rated in this way. Still, some of the following products can make quite the difference for your Eco-friendly kitchen.
Efficient Dishwasher: Dishwashers can be recipients of the energy star label. This indicates that they use a significantly less amount of energy and water than their competitors. Furthermore, when they possess cold water and air-dry options, they are even better for the environment. Moreover, they only add around $25 to your electric bill per year!
Convection ovens: You won’t find a convection oven with an energy star label, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t environmentally friendly. As a matter of fact, they circulate air more evenly and cook food 25% percent faster. In this way, they use one third less energy than a conventional oven.
Get Help from Kitchen Designers
The above mentioned ideas are only a few ways in which you can bring your kitchen into the world of environmentfriendly living. For more ideas, or help implementing these methods, you can consult with a local kitchen design professional.