Tips For A Greener
Kitchen Makeover

Special thanks to Caroline Smith for contributing this article.

Thinking of a kitchen makeover, but want to stick to your green principles?

These handy tips should give you an idea of what products are better for the environment and which you should avoid.

Kitchen Makeover Design

When building a new kitchen, consider complying with stricter green building standards, which are much more energy efficient than regular code.

Make the most of natural light in your room by using energy efficient windows or skylights.

If installing a cooker hood, make sure it vents externally, rather than recirculating the air, to improve indoor air quality.

Countertops

There are several types of countertops made from recycled materials, including recycled glass, tiles and concrete. A low budget green option is laminate made from recycled particle board and water-based glue.

Cabinets

If they are in reasonable condition inside, why not keep your old kitchen cabinets? You can bring them up to date by painting the doors (using an eco paint of course!), or by buying replacement doors. You can also get a great new look by changing the hardware - handles and knobs made from recycled glass or metal come in all kinds of styles.

When buying new doors or cabinets, look for those with a low VOC rating, for better indoor air quality. Solid wood is a green material and is formaldehyde-free, but make sure any wood products you buy are FSC certified. Check that any finishes are non-toxic.

Furniture & Accessories

When it comes to furnishing your new kitchen makeover, aim to reuse and recycle wherever you can. It's fun and economical to do up secondhand items of furniture, such as kitchen counter bar stools.

By painting or staining the wood you can give tatty old wooden bar stools a stylish new look. There are some good eco-friendly paints and wood stains available, and it's satisfying to rejuvenate a tired piece of furniture and give it a unique new image.

Look for non-toxic paints or water-based stains made from natural products such as beeswax, shellac or carnauba wax.

When it comes to buying accessories, look for things made from renewable or recycled materials where available. For instance, there are a huge variety of glasses made from recycled glass bottles, in many styles and colors.

Chopping boards made from bamboo rather than plastic are a good natural choice too.

Electrics & Plumbing

Kitchen appliances, especially refrigerators, account for huge amounts of a household's energy consumption. Check the energy efficiency of models before you buy by comparing their Energy Star rating, as this indicates a product is 10-50% more efficient than standard models.

Give lights separate switches so you can switch on just the ones you need to use. For example, if you have under-cabinet lighting you may not need to use the ceiling lights when preparing food.

Regarding sinks, stainless steel sinks are a cheap option and are made from a high percentage of recycled steel. Copper sinks made from recycled electrical wires and copper piping are a stylish choice.

Faucets with aerators reduce water use by putting bubbles of air into the water stream to produce the same pressure with less volume of water.

Flooring

Reclaimed wood flooring is a popular eco-friendly kitchen makeover option. A cheaper type of flooring is linoleum, made from linseed oil, which is natural and renewable. It comes in a choice of patterns and has the advantage of being easy to clean. Cork and bamboo flooring are also considered green because they are from renewable sources and grow rapidly.

Return from Kitchen Makeover to Living Green