We've said it before and we'll say it again: the kitchen is often the very heart of the home. It is by far one of my favorite spaces, and that's saying a lot since the kitchen I call home is a scant ten feet long and three feet wide. It's there, though, that green renovations can go a long way. Here are five things to make it a more eco-friendly space.
1. Replace outdated appliances with energy-efficient ones. Even if you don't have tons of money to put toward a kitchen remodel, this is something that can be done in phases. The money and energy savings in the long run can make a dent in that initial cost. We found that installing an energy- and water-efficient dishwasher would save us money on both electricity and water bills each month, making it a smart kitchen investment. Look for Energy Star appliances on Craigslist, too!
2. Paint cabinets, inside and out, with low-VOC paints. A change of color can freshen up a space for a small amount of cash—and we've found that having our inside cabinets painted bright white has helped the cabinets look cleaner and more organized!
3. Re-floor with a sustainable choice. If you're up for a big overhaul, look at eco-friendly flooring options: cork, bamboo, sustainable hardwood, tile, and more.
4. Utilize cork. Not up for a cork floor? It's still a great material in the kitchen. Line your shelves with cork to protect them and offer your prized pots a safe place to sit. Or maybe try a cork countertop.
5. Update fixtures. Install a water-wise faucet and change out your lightbulbs for CFLs (or the energy-efficient bulb of your choice).
Related posts:
• Remodel Safely: 10 Tips for Greening the Process
• Before & After: My Cheap, Green Kitchen Remodel
• Before & After: Compact Kitchen Remodel
(Image: via Design*Sponge.)
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Most important: DURABILITY! Design your kitchen for 25 years (not 10). That means good quality cabinets and very durable countertops and flooring. IMO, cork - while an easily renewable resource - is not an environmentally-responsible kitchen floor because it will need to be replaced within 10 years (and will look pretty rough those last few years). I like your other flooring options, including "sustainable hardwood", which to me means locally-sourced or salvaged and FSC when possible.
I love this place, but it should be called housetherapy.com. I've never lived in an apartment where you were allowed to remodel anything. I'm not even allowed to paint over the crappy flat beige that's on my walls. Someday, someday...