Green Remodeling
If your home preparing to remodeling your home, these days I’m sure the phrase “Going green” has passed your lips at least once. So where do you start? How literal do you take it? Each individual is going to have their own opinions and circumstances to evaluate. Here are a few ways to go green and do it in style!
Flooring
Hardwood is one of the most common installations when it comes to flooring. Although Oak flooring is the most popular choice of woods, and does have a long growth rate compared to something such as Bamboo, it may be good to consider the longevity of the flooring itself.
Have you ever walked into a home that is 100 years old or so? Look down! Nine times out of ten, Oak flooring will be under your toes. So although Oak has a long growth rate, it lasts forever if properly maintained. So hardwood flooring is great choice for those that want to go "green", due to it's longevity.
Tile is easily the second most popular flooring choice. Most ceramics are mode from 100% natural and plentiful raw material. Many tile factories generally work within close proximity to the source of the materials and also work on what they call a closed loop process eliminating almost all material waste during the manufacturing process.
Tile is also easy to maintain needing only water and a ph neutral cleaner. Both wood and tile are durable choices, when properly installed and maintained should last for years to come eliminating waste. They both also help control indoor air quality by not allowing pollen, dust, and other pollutants into your home.
Cabinetry
When selecting wood cabinetry for your project, look for is a company who takes pride in their manufacturing process. Look for a manufacturer that is certified though the KCMA environmental Stewardship Program. These manufacturers utilize UV finishing materials that recycle any solvents used, and maximize lumber utilization.
A good example is Bertch Cabinet Manufacturer. They abide by all of the above and more. They go as far as actively planting trees and handing out seedlings.
Countertops
RINATO is a line of cementitious recycled glass countertops. Previously destined for the landfill, the glass has been recycled or “re-born” as a raw material for RINATO. These sustainable slabs offer you all of the design flexibility of Terrazzo with the environmental benefits of 100% recycled glass. That’s not all... the cement matrix which binds the recycled glass in Rinato also includes recycled fly ash and slag to help fortify the cement and to replace non-renewable and petrochemical based resources.
RINATO is available in 62x96x1-1/4” slab format with a polished finish. The weight of the slabs are approximately 14 lbs per square foot suitable for standard spans and overhangs recommended of granite by the Marble Institute of America. Similar to natural stone occasional maintenance is required to preserve RINATO’s appearance and performance. Unlike resinous or petrochemical based products, these slabs will not fade with exposure to UV rays.
Decorative tile
When it comes to going green with your tile, recycled glass tile is probably your best bet. They can be installed anywhere you would like in your home, but are a beautiful feature in a kitchen. They are stain resist and once installed can be cleaned with a simple “glass” cleaner. Only about 1/3 of glass ends up at the recycling center. However, the more demand there is for recycled glass products the more glass will be recycled. Only time and trends will tell.
Appliances
When looking for appliances you want to look for the energy star logo. Refrigerators are the most important because they run constantly 24 hours a day. Energy star was started in 1993 so therefore appliances manufactured in 1993 and later are generally much more efficient than previous years.
However, they keep making improvements and raising standards. For example energy star changes the standards for dishwashers in 2003 and gave manufacturers until Feb. of 2004 to make all changes. Therefore, although dishwashers made after 1993 can be energy efficient those made after 2004 have higher standards. You can visit the Energy Star website for further information
These days the options are endless. If you want to incorporate “going green” into your kitchen project just let us know and we can work with you to find a nice balance between budget, function, and creating an eco-friendly environment.
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