Green Design for Your Kitchen

In one of our earlier
blog posts, we talked about ways you can go “green” in your kitchen by purchasing energy-saving and water-saving appliances. But there’s more you can do if you want an eco-friendly kitchen. Many designers consider the room’s Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), as well as the choice of materials used to build cabinetry, countertops, and floors, as part of a kitchen’s “green” design.

According to Subzero.com, indoor air pollution is a serious public health concern. Interior pollutant levels are two to five times (and even up to 100 times) greater than levels of outdoor pollution. Formaldehyde, which is found in pressed wood and adhesives that contain urea-formaldehyde resins, is a major offender. The Healthy Building Network notes that formaldehyde has been classified as a known carcinogen by the State of California and the World Health Organization. It is also a bronchial irritant and can trigger asthma, and it is connected to “multiple chemical sensitivity.” Practically Green notes that the United States Green Building Council awards LEED credits for buildings that have eliminated added urea-formaldehyde. Noxious paints and stains that contain volatile organic compounds are also a problem.

If you’re planning to remodel your kitchen, consider using woods, stains, finishes, and glues that don’t contain ‘urea-formaldehyde’ or other harmful chemicals. Fiberboard is likely to contain urea-formaldehyde, unless the manufacturer notes that it is free of the chemical. For cabinets, formaldehyde-free wood options include cherry, maple, oak, and alder (be sure woods are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council). Practically Green recommends a number of alternate building products, including Collins Pine FreeForm particleboard, PlybooPure UF-free Products, and PureBone UF-free wood. “Green” materials recommended by Subzero.com include wheatboard, which is compressed with formaldehyde-free binders and finished with a UV-cured finish, and sustainable woods like bamboo, which is actually a fast-growing grass, but is stronger than maple.

The professional kitchen designers at Atherton Appliance & Kitchens will be happy to discuss eco-friendly cabinet designs, finishes, and paints with you. AFM Safecoat Paint, for example, bills itself as “the best paint for chemically sensitive people and anyone concerned about their health and the health of their loved ones.” Another step you can take if you want to boost Indoor Air Quality is to have your air duct system cleaned on a regular basis.

If you’d like to install eco-friendly flooring, Subzero.com recommends cork, which is not only hypoallergenic, but is mold resistant, soft underfoot, and sound-absorbent. Cork is made from bark that can grow back after it is peeled from the tree. Wood harvested from sustainable forests is another option, as is bamboo.

Lighting is another aspect of design that can be efficient and eco-friendly. California has already banned certain energy-guzzling incandescent light bulbs, and the rest of the country will follow suit next year, when new federal regulations are implemented. Lighting company
Bulbrite offers information about the Energy Independence and Security Act, and explains which bulbs will be affected by the legislation. Consider replacing your old bulbs with CFLs or LEDs, and make the most of natural light by positioning sinks and work surfaces near windows.

In addition to the above ideas for a “green kitchen,”
Build.com offers these tips:

• Use a timeless design to avoid the need to renovate in the future, which will use more energy and materials.
• Use local materials and craftsmen.
• Reface cabinets and drawers instead of replacing them.
• Give away or donate old fixtures instead of throwing them out.
• Include a built-in recycling center in your design so that you will be sure to recycle all recyclable materials in your new kitchen.

To think “green” in terms of kitchen design, just consider some eco-friendly basics – clean air, sustainability, energy savings, and going local. Your family, and your planet, will thank you.