Green Kitchens

Here is a great article from ServiceMagic,
Towanda!  Making a Green Kitchen a Reality

Go Green in Your Kitchen!

Air quality

According to David Linzer a Certified Kitchen Designer and green advocate, "There needs to be a constant reminder that toxic indoor air quality contributes to asthma, allergies, attention deficit disorders, cancer and many other illnesses, " he writes,  "There is little discussion about sick air syndrome.  Building, designing and living in a healthy home should be high on the priority lists for going green."

What Can you do for Green?

Refrigerators use nearly 5% of the total household annual electricity consumption.  But, there are several appliances that can help save energy.  These include the induction cooktops, a dishwasher can reduce energy consumption by 41% and certain microwave ovens use 80% less energy than a conventional oven.

Healthier Homes

On the health front, things get a little more complicated. Green remodeling guru David Johnston recommends in his book "Green Remodeling: Changing the World One Room at a Time," that homeowners choose formaldehyde-free cabinet and countertop materials, low- or no-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and stains, and water-based adhesives rather than those that use petroleum-based solvents. He also stresses the importance of good ventilation in the form of range hoods and lots of windows, just to be safe. In short, don't let reducing energy consumption dominate your green kitchen goals. Taking steps in a positive direction when it comes to creating a healthy kitchen are equally important.

The Cost of a Green Kitchen

So, what does a green kitchen cost these days? In all honesty, it's hard to say. So much of it depends on whether your kitchen is a few hundred square feet, or a couple thousand, that it's nearly impossible to quote reliable ballpark estimates. Nevertheless, in her Washington Post article "Eco-Friendly in the Kitchen", Lila Guterman found that the estimates she got from contractors to build a "green" kitchen were consistently 20 to 30 percent more than a traditional kitchen remodel. That might sound like a hefty price tag, but when you figure in a healthier home, reduced energy costs, and eco-peace-of-mind, it makes sense why more and more homeowners are deciding that the extra 20 to 30 percent is well worth the money spent.

No Need to Shoot for the Moon

Finally, what if that 20 to 30 percent is more than you're willing, or able, to spend? Never fear. Going green doesn't have to mean spending thousands, or tens of thousands, of dollars on a major kitchen remodel.  Making green decisions on a smaller level in the kitchen does make a difference. Choosing long lasting pots and pans (stainless steel and cast iron), using reusable storage containers rather than disposable ones, and repainting or refinishing old cabinets rather than sending your existing set to the landfill are all smart steps in a green direction.