Easy Green Kitchen Remodeling Tips for All Home Owners

Tips courtesy of Pankow Construction

Going Green in the Kitchen

While going green seems to be all the rage these days, eco-friendly products have a reputation for being expensive, frumpy and difficult to find. However, this does not have to be the case, read below for some easy quick tips for going green in your next kitchen remodel.

Green Tip: Recycled Countertops

Quartz composite countertops are a great option to the typical granite countertop installation. They look beautiful and are very easy to clean/ ultra durable. They are also referred to as engineered stone, and are available from companies such as DuPont Zodiaq, CaesarStone, Silestone and IceStone. Their are also companies like Richlite which offer countertops made from recycled paper or hemp, which are extremely durable and also easy to clean, but color selection can be limited.

Green Tip: Energy-Efficient Appliances

Energy Efficient appliances can help you slash your energy bill while helping the environment, and the best part is all you have to do look for the Energy Star label when shopping. This ensures they are 10 percent to 50 percent more efficient than standard models. Also purchase appliances only as big as you need them, purchasing bigger appliances require more electricity thus more energy.

Green Tip: Install Water-Saving Features

Install faucets with aerators, which insert air bubbles into the water to create the same pressure with less volume. Tankless hot water heaters are also a great choice as they heat water at the source. Also because they are smaller than standard water heaters, they use less water and 10 percent to 20 percent less energy. Check our Rinnai

Green Tip: Green Flooring

Important feature to consider when choosing a flooring is that it is VOC- freeand come from renewable resources. Wood, cork and bamboo are beautiful eco-friendly options. Linoleum is also another option and is enjoying quite a comeback. It is made of natural materials such as inseed oil, rosin and wood flour. It is extremely durable and easy to clean up. Armstrong and Marmoleum offer a wide variety of options to choose from.

Green Tip: Maximize Energy-Saving Lighting

Be sure to use air tight recessed cans with CFL bulbs. Air tight recessed cans keep air from escaping around the can and into the attic. Motion and occupancy sensors save money by automatically turning lights on and off as needed.

Green Tip: Green Paint

Paint with low VOC paints. They are durable, come in a range of colors and are much safer than traditional paint.

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