You want to be green and remodel your kitchen, but you want to make the least impact on the Earth as possible -what do you need to know?
The simplest changes you can make include upgrading appliances to more energy efficient Energy Star appliances and replace the lighting with fluorescent or light-emitting diode (LED) lighting. Just these two actions will save you a bundle of money in the long run.
If you’ve decided to redo your kitchen from top to bottom, there are many sustainable countertops available – from stainless steel to paper composite to terrazzo to wood. Among many Industrial Electrician companies in Chicago, Taty Construction, can assist you with your green kitchen ideas.
When considering a wooden countertop, make sure the wood comes from sustainable wood or forests. If you’re not sure how to find sustainable woods, visit the Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC). The FSC has created standards, which finds solutions for existing bad forestry standards.
Terrazzo consists of glass, stone and binders. Some companies use up to 100 percent of recycled glass. What makes concrete green? The manufacturing process requires a lot of input, but fly ash can be substituted for cement, which lowers the energy required to produce concrete. Concrete with 30 percent fly ash or more does not House Plan 4382 contaminate indoor air quality and is completely recyclable. Salvaged metal or recycled metal can be used to create sustainable steel countertops. And, no glue is needed when installing countertops, reducing the resources used and potential contaminants. Also, these countertops are extremely durable and have a long life span.
Flooring is also an integral part of green kitchen remodeling. Linoleum flooring and cork are extremely durable and are comprised from natural, renewable resources. Linoleum is derived from linseed oil, pigments and pine rosins and does not off gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Cork is derived from of the bark of cork-oak trees. Cork flooring sheets are produced from leftover wine bottle corks.
Other natural flooring options include bamboo or reclaimed or sustainable wood, such as Cane, Mango or Maple. This flooring should then be finished with natural oils or sealants.
Next is the cabinetry. Reusing your existing cabinetry is always an option. Other options include using low to zero-VOC panel products, FSC-certified plywood, rapidly renewable agrifiber boards, such as wheatboard or reclaimed wood.
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