Build Green: Kitchen Design

“Don’t be overwhelmed by trying to make the Greenest kitchen possible; make reasonable choices within your budget. Every Green remodeling decision adds to a healthier environment, both inside and outside the kitchen. Make your world a little Greener.” Green Kitchen Remodeling by Lisa VandenDool

What is your shade of green?

Components of a Green Kitchen
• Kitchen Recycling Center
• Eco-Friendly Flooring
• Stained Concrete or Indigenous Stone Countertops
• Air Admittance Valve
• Wall Insulation
• ENERGY STAR Windows
• ENERGY STAR Task Lighting and Lighting Controls
• ENERGY STAR Appliances
• Universal Design Kitchen Cabinets
• Low-VOC Paints and Finishes
• Mold-Resistant Gypsum or Cement Board
• Induction Cooktop

Implementing the Green Kitchen Remodel Guidelines:

An organized approach to the layout, traffic patterns, and accessibility of a kitchen will allow it to be functional through many transitions in family size and use of the room. Some of the dimensions and design requirements necessary to provide universal access in a kitchen are available from Wright State University College of Engineering and Computer Science. A professional designer and the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s (NKBA) website can also offer some guidelines.
We have professional designers on staff

Kitchen Cabinets - Cabinets that are made with particleboard or fiberboard are likely to contain urea formaldehyde and are not resistant to moisture. However, sealing these with low VOC paint or stain or laminating with a new surface will seal the substrates. Agricultural fiber panels, like wheat and strawboard, are made from plant stems and sustainable binders and are a good choice for areas that will not be subjected to wetting. Some solid wood cabinet lines from both custom and larger, more mainstream manufacturers have low-VOC emissions. Laminates and thermo-foils can seal in VOCs contained in substrates, offering an indoor air quality solution to budget-constrained designs.
We Sell Green Certified Cabinets from Kraftmaid and Mid-Continent

Counters:
Sturdy, simple to clean, and sanitary is the mantra for counters. Use a durable, water-resistant material on backsplashes to keep the area clean and sanitary, as well. Keep seams in counter top surface material at least two feet away from the sink and out of heavily-used areas. See the different counter top materials on the market.
Butcher Block - Select wood certified by Forest Stewardship Council (Look for food-safe labels on oils and sealers)
Concrete - Recycled materials like glass and fly ash can be included in the concrete mix Use nontoxic, natural pigments mixed into concrete for color rather than surface-applied stains
Engineered Stone - Quartz, pigments, and polyester resin are combined and poured into a mold to create a dense slab resembling granite (Available in many colors, Look for regionally manufactured stone and local fabricators)
Laminates - Choose products made with water-based rather than solvent-based resins (Use adhesives low in VOCs )
Natural Stone (Granite and Marble) - Quarried from around the world, impacts depend on quarrying and production practices as well as transport distance. (Readily available as salvage and remnants)
Solid Surface - Solid surface materials (e.g., Corian©) is a mix of fillers and resins Filler is often a form of bauxite -- the ore that produces aluminum Resins are polyester or acrylic -- both are derived from oil and natural gas products
Stainless Steel (Combo of steel, chromium, and nickel) - Chromium, a toxic heavy metal, is bound in steel during manufacturing so the finished product is non-toxic. (Look for salvaged stainless steel at restaurant supply and metal surplus distributors. Stainless steel that is 18% chromium and 10% nickel is more durable)
Tile - Manufacturing requires large amounts of energy but products are durable. Cost option varies widely based on tile and complexity of installation. Tiles can be made from recycled glass, porcelain, salvaged ceramic scrap, or feldspar tailings. Grout sealers and lines less than 1/8” create easy-to-clean surfaces.(Choose sealers free of formaldehyde and low in VOCs. Install with solvent-free mastic on a durable rot-proof surface, such as cement backer board)
GREENGUARD Certified Countertops

Flooring:
Kitchen floors are subjected to heavy use and a myriad of conditions -- from scraping with furniture legs to frequent wetting and drying during everyday use. Wood, concrete, ceramic or porcelain tile, and linoleum are some of the more durable finishes frequently selected for kitchens. Compare the various floor materials and finishes available.

Faucets, Plumbing, and Fixtures:
Comply with water flow maximum capacities that have been mandated by the EPA since 1994 -- 2.2 gpm for faucets. Vintage faucets can be installed and tested for EPA flow rate compliance by filling a bucket in one minute and measuring the contents. Aerators can be retrofitted onto some older faucets to reduce the flow rate.