If you are remodeling your kitchen, make sustainability an integral part of your plans. Thanks to new materials and innovations, designing a sustainable kitchen does not have to be challenging as in the past. If you like a sleek, modern design or prefer the timeless style of a rustic farmhouse look, you can make a few conscious decisions to give your home a greener living space. Learn more about the ways you can design an eco-friendly kitchen in Pennsylvania.
Choose How You Want To Design Your Kitchen
When you are remodeling your kitchen, you can choose between two approaches. You can go for a design that uses recycled and natural materials. With that, you not only help the environment, but your kitchen can have a sense of harmony with nature.
On the other hand, some homeowners want to make environmentally conscious decisions but keep that space’s modern and contemporary conveniences. Redesigning a kitchen with eco-friendly features is not a complex task. You just need a few tips to start in the right direction.
Change Up the Colors
When painting your kitchen, use non-toxic paint. Natural paint is made from materials like clay, milk proteins, or citrus, which are solvent-free and have zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs). When deciding on the perfect color, look for GREENGUARD-Certified paint. It helps reduce indoor air pollution and the risk of chemical exposure.
Swap Out Your Old Windows
Upgrading your windows is a great way to go greener. These windows will help minimize the heat transfer between the inside of your home and the outdoors. Swapping your old windows for Energy Star-certified ones has been shown to lower household energy bills by 12% and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. If you are not ready for a total window replacement, use some weatherstripping to prevent drafts and energy loss.
Reuse Materials
Remember to reuse materials from other projects when remodeling your kitchen. For example, create floating shelves if you have leftover wood from flooring or countertops. You can add handles from an old dresser to use on your new cabinets. Both of these ideas can save you money and cut down on waste that will only head to the local landfill.
Reface Those Kitchen Cabinets
Speaking of kitchen cabinets, consider refacing them. Replacing cabinets can be costly and adds a lot of waste to the environment. Refacing cabinets have a much smaller carbon footprint than a complete kitchen remodel. It is an excellent option if you’re trying to be environmentally friendly and want to cut down on the expenses of a remodeling project.
Incorporate New and Old Items
Instead of throwing out old pieces of furniture in your home, refinish and add them to your kitchen. Any eco-friendly kitchen design focuses on reducing waste. You do not have to go out and purchase all new items for your space. Sometimes, bringing back to life an old chair or bench is a great way to add style to your kitchen and help save the environment. With that, don’t be afraid to mix old and new items that will give your kitchen a little personal touch.
Upgrade Your Dishwasher and Refrigerator
Dishwashers are generally very energy-efficient appliances, but you can reduce energy consumption by installing an Energy Star model. A new dishwasher will save your home an average of 3,870 gallons of water per year, providing significant savings on your utility bills. Look for a dishwasher with multiple cycles to select the best option to reduce water waste. Also, skip the heated dry cycle and set the air-dry option to reduce energy usage.
Upgrading to an Energy Star refrigerator can save money on your energy bill. Since this appliance is always running, the fridge is one of the most energy-draining elements in the kitchen. By upgrading to an Energy Star refrigerator, you can save at least $200 on your utility bill and reduce your carbon footprint. If you want more savings, choose a refrigerator with either a top or bottom freezer, which costs less to run than a side-by-side model.
Replace Your Old Oven
Switch out your old oven with a convection unit. Generally, you will see a 20% reduction in energy usage. A convection oven is very eco-friendly. The unit has a fan that continuously circulates the heated air to reduce the cooking time and moderate the temperature. In turn, a convection oven is more environmentally friendly than a standard oven.
Change Your Countertops
Do you want to create an eco-friendly kitchen? Consider replacing your countertops with materials made from recycled glass or even reclaimed wood. These durable, sustainable materials will last a long time without cracking or chipping. Quartz is also an eco-friendly option made from a natural material that lasts a long time. Even if you choose a natural stone, many manufacturers are finding ways to help protect the environment and create a more sustainable product for your home. If you want to reduce waste, use the leftover pieces of the materials for projects around the house. You can use them to make a marble cutting board or granite coaster.
Use These Ideas for Your Next Kitchen Remodel
It is easy to add eco-friendly elements to your kitchen. By using old materials and making smarter choices, you can create a kitchen that will have little impact on the environment. At Marble Concepts, we can help you choose the most environmentally friendly options for your countertops. When you need granite companies nearby, reach out to us. Schedule a consultation by calling 215-396-7393.
