Blog

How New Homes Earn the ENERGY STAR

2011-10-18T14:08:08Z

To earn the Energy Star, a home must meet strict guidelines set out by the U.S. EPA. In meeting these guidelines, a home will become 20-30% more efficient than standard homes built to code. A series of energy efficient improvements that could be included, but not limited to, in the home design are:

Effective Insulation Systems - Properly installed and inspected insulation in floors, walls, and attics ensures even temperatures throughout the house, reduced energy use, and increased comfort.
High Performance Windows - Energy-efficient windows employ advanced technologies, such as protective coatings and improved frames, to help keep heat in during winter and out during summer. These windows also block damaging ultraviolet sunlight that can discolor carpets and furnishings.
Tight Construction and Ducts - Sealing holes and cracks in the home's "envelope" and in heating and cooling duct systems helps reduce drafts, moisture, dust, pollen, and noise. A tightly sealed home improves comfort and indoor air quality while reducing utility and maintenance.
Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment - In addition to using less energy to operate, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems can be quieter, reduce indoor humidity, and improve the overall comfort of the home. When properly installed into a tightly sealed home, this equipment won't have to work so hard to heat and cool the home.
ENERGY STAR Qualified Lighting and Appliances - ENERGY STAR qualified homes may also be equipped with ENERGY STAR qualified products — lighting fixtures, compact fluorescent bulbs, ventilation fans, and appliances, such as refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines

To ensure that the home meets the guidelines, a home energy rater works closely with the builder throughout the project. This third-party verification system is a requirement to earn the rating, as the Rater conducts on-site diagnostic testing to document that the home is eligible.

Step 1: Builder Chooses to Partner with ENERGY STAR

In doing so the builder enters a partnership agreement with the EPA and ENERGY STAR. In order to keep this agreement a builder must ere3ct at least one ENERGY STAR rated home every 12 months. As well, the builder independently selects a Home Energy Rater to work with and qualify the homes.

Step 2: Builder and Rater Select Appropriate Energy-Efficient Home Features

Some Raters have different approaches to the selection process of the home features. After the builder submits the architectural plans to the Rater, some Raters follow the EPA prescriptive package of features, where as some develop a customized approach using specialized modeling software.

Step 3: Building of the Home and Verification of Features and Performance

The Rater performs a number of inspections and diagnostic tests throughout the building process. This is done so to ensure proper installation and assess overall energy performance of each selected feature.

Step 4: Home Qualifies as ENERGY STAR and is Issued ENERGY STAR label

A final inspection is completed in order to determine that all requirements have been met. If so the Rater issues an ENERGY STAR label which is placed on the circuit breaker of the house. This label provides the home owner with documentation that the home is qualified.

With 20-30% higher energy efficiency in your home you will receive real benefits. Your monthly costs are lowered due to increased efficiency and you will lower your carbon footprint. Also the government has provided a rebate program for energy efficient intiatives. As well, with tight construction you allow for improved quality of living including overall comfort and air quality throughout the house.

Excerpts from: ENERGY STAR website

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=new_homes.nh_features

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=new_homes.nh_verification_process

Ask the Professionals - Part 6 - Kitchen Remodeling

2011-10-17T14:09:30Z

Kitchens are the most remodeled room in the house. Typically the kitchen area is also the center of activity, the conference room of the home, the dining area, the absolute hub. The kitchen is the most viewed area in your home and for that matter the greatest investment in a remodeling project.

People remodel for numerous reasons including design, functionality, resale value, entertaining, and style. Whatever your reason may be, here are a few ideas that may contribute to your ideal kitchen remodeling project.

When addressing the kitchen from a complete remodel or custom home build, design the kitchen facing east to catch the morning sun. But remember to use UV protection windows to protect wood flooring and furniture from fading.
Appliances – A few brands really rise above the rest. Stick to Energy Star Rated Appliances for efficiency
- Wolf Dual Fuel Pro Range- 48” dual oven and range top with 6 burners and 48” Hood above.
- Miele Dishwasher Generation 5000- Built in with front finish matching cabinet finish on kitchen island.
- Miele Refrigerator Generation 5000– with integrated cabinet panels
- Miele Coffee and Espresso Maker– Built into the cabinets.
- Warming Drawer – Keeps your food warm and serves as a slow cooker.
Walk-in Pantry Closet
Countertops – There are many viable options for countertops. The composition, grain, and color are all important aspects of the design of your kitchen. Granite, Quarts, and Concrete are among the most popular types.
Flooring – Two types of flooring are used in kitchen remodels, Wood and tile. After asking our professionals a stained wide quarter sawn oak floor is a nice option. Meet that with a 12x12 tile between the island and work zone and you have a beautiful combination.
Kitchen Island – are a perfect addition to a kitchen. The island can house the dishwasher as well as a recommended prep sink with a separate filtered cold water tap.

As we move away from the kitchen remember, functionality and accessibility are key aspects of a home. A well designed home will create open space. For storage and accessibility, a butler’s pantry separating kitchen and dining room serves as extra cabinet space and serving buffer zone.

With the kitchen being the focal point of the home, it is also nice for it to have a separate entrance. Entering the home through a mudroom with cabinetry and coat hooks is one way at achieving this feature.

This being the last of a 6 part blog series we would like to thank those who contributed their ideas for the project. Enjoy what is to come and stay tuned for our upcoming E-Books!

Ask the Professionals - Part 5 - A Unique Design

2011-10-13T16:49:50Z

In our ideal home we create rooms that effectively meet or exceed our needs, wants, and wishes. This can be anything included in your design and use of space, down to the electronics used and furniture chosen. Our Professionals have offered insight on a few special rooms, some already touched upon in our previous blog, and some unique ideas you wont find in your everyday home design.

Arts and Crafts Rooms – Whether it is for your self or to be used as a kid’s playroom. Assigning one room for these activities effectively eliminates some unwanted household cleaning.

Home Theater – Usually found in more elaborate home designs. A projection screen tv, state of the art surround sound, and stadium seating can make for a nice family movie night.

Home Office – With noise cancelling wallboard this is a reliable room for a work environment, decorated to meet your needs.

Home gym – Work out in privacy or with a friend, this room will pay for itself not having to pay gym memberships.

Breakfast Room – typically connected to the kitchen, breakfast rooms serve as highly used dining areas. When not used, this room can serve as a decorative addition to your home.

Walk-in Closets - Referring to the picture, not just your everyday closet. This is a room connected to both master bedroom and master bathroom housing cabinets for clothing, shoes, and other apparel.

When designing your custom home or remodel project, think of what your need and would like in your home. Designing a specific room for yourself will make your home unique to you.

Ask the Professionals - Part 4 - Entertainment Space aka Man Town

2011-10-03T19:16:27Z

We call it Man Town. Your very own Bat Cave in your basement with all the toys and gadgets you want. This is an ideal place to escape after a long day of work. Throwing a party or watching Sunday night football, there is no better place than sitting in front of a large screen TV with excessive entertainment packages while playing pool and grabbing a drink from your wet bar. In this section we’ll go over what our project managers, our Pros, have to say about their ideal Man Cave.

An unfinished basement can be a daunting chore. Dust settles and mold can grow given any moisture problems. However, once finished will be an absolute pleasure.

Ideally, your basement is carpeted with a good moisture and mold resistant pad. Inside the carpeted areas you’ll find couches and a recliner focusing on an entertainment system with the latest electronics.

iPod Bridge – radio frequency broadcasting audio receiver.
Hdmi ready television and receiver for music and movie streaming
Universal remote – one control for all operations
Bose High Quality Surround Sound

Within reach of your comfortable seating area is a small kitchen with a standing bar.

Beautiful stained finish, wood bar with rail. Adorned with decorative, possibly sport team focused, bar stools.
Top of the bar stained with a deep catalyzed finish.
The kitchen area should be complete with essentials : Fridge, microwave, sink, dishwasher
Flooring – Tiled floor with a membrane that will prevent cracking in cement floor.

A nice addition outside the kitchen area is a built-in wine cellar. Its important to house all your fine wines at the appropriate room temperature. Wine coolers are also available and these can be installed underneath a bar.

Within the same space, a bathroom is a nice addition. Throw in a simple standing shower and a nice residential urinal and toilet and you’ll never have to leave your basement.

Once the seating, dining, and bathroom accommodations are taken care of, accessories and decorations can be addressed. With enough space, a pool table can be introduced to the Man Cave. If you’re a ping pong enthusiast, a top can be fashioned for the table. As for decorations, your home sports team may be a nice theme using portraits and autographed posters.

Outside of an entertaining area, you can include a home office space. Make sure to include a wireless router for internet use that can share throughout the house. Hardwood flooring is a nice addition here, using a floating engineered wood floor with a plywood substrate.

Also a Home Fitness Room is a nice addition for those trying to stay in shape after those long Sunday afternoons. It is preferable to have a walk-out basement as well to catch some fresh air and get out into the back yard.

Ask the Professionals - Part 3 - Interior Design Concepts

2011-09-26T18:41:42Z

Craftsmanship is a top priority in any home remodeling project. It complements the quality of a product and can make even inexpensive choices look good, last longer, and require less maintenance.

Good design is a key element in any successful remodeling or building project. Your success begins with a vision and a team of talented professionals who can craft that vision into a set of plans, build according to the plans, and deliver an award winning product that will stand the test of time. Below are several ideas of what excites us in a home.

Big kitchen and Family room with an open floor plan – Most families spend the majority of their time in this area of the home and are asking for spacious, but cozy gathering spaces. An open plan is great for entertaining as well.
A fireplace in the family room, or preferably a hearth built into a partition that delineates the kitchen and family room.
Architectural details - To add warmth and character to a larger area we recommend using architectural details such as crown molding, wainscoting, and bead board.
A high, wood- beamed custom art ceiling would serve as a classic showpiece and give your home uniqueness.
An interesting, well-crafted staircase- The main staircase is a central feature, and can be one of the most beautiful aspects of the home. Ideally the stairs should not creak and the newel post, regardless of style, should be sturdy. The moldings should flow continuously and meet smoothly with the finished carpentry above and below.
Hard wood flooring on first floor, up staircase and second floor hallway- This is a common approach although some prefer hardwood in the bedrooms as well. Area rugs on the 1^st floor and runners on the stairs and hallway add warmth, provide safety from slipping, and protect the floor’s finish.
- One of our experts’ top choice would be to use stained, wide, quarter- sawn oak with rugged look 12 x 12 tile between the island and work zone in the kitchen.

Well constructed custom cabinets -There are some very cleverly designed cabinets available today to serve the storage needs of any room in your home, including the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, laundry room, mudroom, home office, family room and basement. Cabinets are built in several different styles and can be painted or stained to your liking. Hardware selections are extensive as well, and allow you to match the cabinet style to the rest of your home.
- For instance, one of our experts loves the Greenfield Frameless line in some type of exotic engineered veneer – very crisp clean lines – minimal moldings – very European style/modern.
Built-in bookcases – bookcases are a classic addition to any home and are useful for, not only holding books, but for displaying family photos and other accessories.
Pantry in kitchen – Pantries are back in style and with good reason. They offer organization to your kitchen, creating a much more efficient use of space. Also, cabinets can be expensive and pantries help to reduce the amount of cabinet space necessary. Pantries often evoke warm childhood memories and more of our clients are requesting them.
Mudroom – Essential to maintaining cleanliness, and providing space for shoes, coats, hats, backpacks, etc., mudrooms are one of the most desirable aspects of the modern home. A well designed mudroom provides that proverbial “place for everything.”
Baths - including a Master Suite with spa style bathroom. Most new homes today are built with a half-bath on the first floor and two full baths upstairs – one of which is the master bath.
- A popular trend is to have the Master suite on the first floor with bedroom, bathroom, and walk-in closet.
- Finished basements often include an extra bathroom, either full or half depending on the needs of the occupants.
Laundry Room – A separate, quiet laundry area with plenty of space for drying and hanging hand washables. Having the laundry area located on the second floor is very desirable to most because of the convenience.

Ask The Professionals - Part 2 - Exterior Curb Appeal

2011-09-17T18:49:00Z

The exterior of your home is just as important as the interior. Proper design and craftsmanship is your top prioroty. In creating value for your home, curb appeal is essential in that your entryway to your home creates a first impression on any guest. You can attack your home’s curb appeal from many directions. For example, creating a lush landscape will draw attention to the front of your home. Adding a farmers porch and new front door will also support the attraction. After asking our pros, we were able to outline what they thought would create a beautiful exterior…

Our pros recommend a beautiful Welcoming Entrance. The most popular idea was for a farmers porch as well as fully covered entrances.

Farmers Porch or Covered Entrance – This serves to add character to the exterior of your home and is also practical with most modern designs.

Low maintenance materials create lasting value. Fiberon Composite decking is one known source. Their horizon decking material provides a stunning look and is made from 74% recycled material. The material consists of plastic milk jugs, water bottles, etc. and is recycled from local landfills.
Our professionals specifically requested a 5/4 Meranti wood, natural finish deck with solid Meranti posts, and white composite railing post caps for contrast. The use of Azek trim completes the picture. Azek can and should be used for all exterior trims.
Beautiful front doors are one of the first things people notice in assessing the value of your home. All windows and doors are important in creating curb appeal and adding to the sustainability of your home. The use of low-e glass cuts your UV light exposure down to 17% protecting furniture and wood floors on the interior from fading. Anderson Casement windows are a nice addition to your home offering unobstructed views and opening fully to provide a guided breeze into your home.
Adding furniture to your front porch makes it look inviting as a welcoming veranda.

Our experts also agree that at least a 2-car garage is necessary, 2 ½ preferably. A desire for organization and low maintenance living makes the extra storage space desirable. Closet storage concepts can be used for high organization, keeping that clutter out…

The long term energy efficiency of the overall building shell is equally important. Our pros offer two specific ideas for siding the home using sustainable products including cement siding, growing in popularity, and a traditional vinyl siding.

Cedar clap boards and some stonework for the front siding, with a high quality heavy gauge insulated vinyl product for the balance of the house - Vinyl with the look of stained clapboard and front claps stained to match.
HardiePlank Lap Siding clapboards consist of a combination of wood and cement. They provide protective services relative to the climate you are in, as well as an extended warranty.
Forty year or better roof shingles.
Solar panels are another way to reduce energy consumption. There is ongoing research being done to make the upfront cost more affordable, which will in turn create a quicker return on your investment.

Your back yard is your oasis. For your own personal enjoyment there are many things to consider depending on your own style and taste.

Screened in porch including space for an eating area within for dining out during the summer.
A BBQ pit can be built into your patio overlooking your pool. Other stone work can also be crafted including pool side bars, fire pits, etc.
Andersen French Patio Doors with craftsman style grid on glass and an overhang roof with nice support brackets is an example of a beautiful back door entrance.
Landscaping and walk-ways can complete the picture of an ideal setting for your home.

Ask The Professionals - Part 1 - Interior Energy Efficiency

2011-09-12T16:56:19Z

The up -front costs of some energy efficient building methods are higher than the standard. However, the long term savings, financially as well as environmentally, are exponential. The following is a list of the most effective ways to save money and decrease your environmental footprint.

Use Spray Foam Insulation, such as Icynene everywhere, including the attic to condition that space for the mechanicals.

A superior ventilation system is also important in regards to interior energy efficiency and health.

Fantech for all the bathroom fans and a separate Fantech w/lint trap for the clothes dryer.
Proper ventilation is vital for healthy indoor air.Fresh Air Exchangers provide a constant source of fresh, filtered air to flow through your home.
Remote blower system in the attic for the kitchen hood system that would provide at least 1100 cfm.

LED Light Bulbs (light-emitting diodes) are an easy way to save money and create high interior energy efficiency.

You can now replace 75-100 watt incandescent bulbs with equivalent light output and only consume 3-13 watts.
The most notable advantages of LED light bulbs over conventional light bulbs are Led light bulbs last upwards of 50,000 hours, so if you buy a LED light bulb today and leave it on for 8 hours a day you will not have to change it for over 10 years.
A 7 watt LED home light bulb (60 watt direct replacement) will cost $2.00 a year to run left on for 8 hours a day vs. an incandescent which will cost $20.00 and you will have to change it 2-3 times every year.
LED light bulbs are shatterproof, run cool to the touch, and contain no mercury or hazardous substances like CFL’s so the applications are endless and more importantly safer for your home or business.

A high efficiency boiler will increase the interior energy efficiency of your home.

ENERGY STAR qualified boilershave annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) ratings of 85% or greater. AFUE is the measure of heating equipment efficiency. They achieve greater efficiency with features, including :
electronic ignition, which eliminates the need to have the pilot light burning all the time.
new combustion technologies that extract more heat from the same amount of fuel.
sealed combustion that uses outside air to fuel the burner, reducing drafts and improving safety.
Making sure you have the right size boiler is essential when you’re buying a new model. If it's too small it might not meet your needs; too big and it will be over-costly, inefficient, more expensive to run, and be even more damaging to the environment.

An on-demand tankless water heater will save you money while providing a continuous source of hot water. As well, choosing the highest SEER air conditioning system available, and purchasing Energy Star Rated Appliances is a no-brainer when you consider the cost savings as well as the overall value they add to your home.

Ask the Professionals - Introduction

2011-09-07T16:32:45Z

Do you ever dream of or imagine the perfect home for you and your family? One of the first steps in our design process is to ask our clients for a list of their needs, wants, and wishes for their home. It is a proven discovery technique for obtaining information that contributes to a successful, working relationship and best results for our clients.

We thought it would be interesting to ask our team, who spend their working hours improving other people’s homes and living spaces, to share some of their ideas of what they consider important in a home. We asked them the following question:

“Imagine you’re building a home today for yourself and your family. What are your must haves/must dos?”

You’ll see what they came up with in a 6 part blog series beginning with the exterior called, “Ask The Pros”.

Creative Mudroom Remodeling

2011-02-06T14:06:34Z

If your family’s active lifestyle too often translates to a messy house you are not alone. The old maxim, “a place for everything and everything in its place,” is more relevant today than ever.

A well-designed mudroom can provide a creative solution to help decrease the clutter from belongings that we carry on or with us daily, adding convenience and order to our lives.

It’s fun to watch the contents of our mudroom change from one season to the next.

Summer, with its easy living, brings strewn flip flops and croqs, colorful tote bags packed with beach or pool essentials, baseball caps, bike helmets, and sneakers. Ours also sports sidewalk chalk, squirt guns, jump ropes, golf shoes and various other toys and sporting equipment.

Along comes fall and with it the back packs that, let’s face it, the kids are going to drop in the most accessible place possible, sweatshirts and light jackets, stylish boots, clogs and shoes. Though I’d like to, I can’t forgot the raincoats and umbrellas.

Winter adds the heaviest load; out come the winter coats, jackets and snow pants, hats, mittens, scarves and perhaps warm cozy Uggs.

Then with the blessed arrival of spring, which seems to come later with each passing year, we’re back to sweatshirts and light jackets, sneakers and flip flops, hats and base ball caps, and should I mention, the mud.

Mudroom design is often overlooked when houses are built but so essential to keeping all that “stuff” out of the main part of the home. Whether building a new home or remodeling an existing one, it would be prudent to include a cleverly designed concept for your most used entrance.

Have fun with it! Give it some character, as it will most likely be the first room you and others experience upon entering your home.

In place of a closet, which takes up a lot of space and is less likely to be used, consider some of the following ideas that are popular and proven to work well.

A bench to sit on while removing shoes and boots with storage underneath.
Shelves and cubbies, which offer best use of space, and which children can easily access and are large enough for baskets.
Securely anchored coat hooks.
Drawers and cabinets to store out of season items, etc.
Flooring that will sustain the heavy traffic, mud, sand and moisture.
A door or possibly, French doors, to define the space.

Green Kitchen Trends Part 6 - Lighting

2011-01-04T13:37:49Z

Lighting accounts for 5 to 10 percent of total electricity used in U.S. homes. The best way to reduce your power usage is to locate workspaces near windows or install more windows or skylights in order to take advantage of daylight. Tubular Skylights or Light Tubes capture natural sunlight from the rooftop and redirect it down a reflective tube into interior spaces inside your home. The tubing will fit between rafters and can be installed easily with little or no structural modification. At the ceiling level, an attractive diffuser spreads the light evenly throughout the room. Natural Lighting tubes bring warmth to difficult to light and often forgotten rooms and turn them into extraordinary spaces filled with pure, natural light.

If you do need extra lighting in the kitchen, then install individually controlled task lighting, such as under cabinet lighting or pendants over an island that will only illuminate the space that you need and now the whole room. Lastly, compact fluorescent bulbs should be installed because they use less energy for the same amount of light.

Green Kitchen Trends Part 5 - Appliances

2010-12-29T13:27:53Z

The kitchen is the most energy-intensive room in the home. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, lighting, refrigeration and cooking are responsible for 41.5% of a home's energy consumption. Add dishwashers, electronics and a plethora of preparatory paraphernalia, and you've got an environmental hot spot. Oversized and energy-inefficient appliances are the number-one problem with conventional kitchen remodels. It is recommended to replace older major appliances with the most resource-efficient models that you can afford, making sure that are only as large as you need. Refrigerators and dishwashers that are more than 10 years old and stoves that are more than 20 years old typically are inefficient and polluting the environment in some way. Energy Star labeled products are a great place to start looking for new appliances. Energy Star is the trusted, government-backed symbol for energy efficiency helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy-efficient products and practices.

The label was established to: reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants caused by the inefficient use of energy; and make it easy for consumers to identify and purchase energy-efficient products that offer savings on energy bills without sacrificing performance, features, and comfort.

It's a great start to look for the Energy Star label some of the biggest names, such as Kohler, Bosch, GE, Kenmore, Asko and KitchenAid, are on board. Although buyer beware that some LG and Kenmore Trio refrigerators recently had their Energy Star status suspended, after Consumer Reports tests showed disappointing real-world energy use.

Green Kitchen Trends - Part 4 Tile

2010-12-10T16:21:49Z

Tile is one option for backsplashes and flooring within a kitchen that is environmentally friendly because of its durability. Tile typically is made of either natural stone, ceramic, or glass. Like all building materials, tile whether it is natural stone or manufactured tile, it has both beneficial and negative environmental aspects. One of the strongest positives is that stone, tile and grout release few if any VOCs or other problematic air emissions. Also, it is important to note that all earth-based products (stone, tile, and concrete) will contain traces of radon, a radioactive gas that occurs naturally in soil and rock throughout the U.S. and elsewhere.

The durability of stone and tile varies according to type and depends upon each material’s hardness and resistance to wear by abrasive substances, water and physical impacts. With proper maintenance (sealing and grout repair) these materials last a very long time, from 50 to 100 years. However, stone and tile products, because of their weight, require more energy for transportation than other finish materials for walls and floors, which require greater use of fossil fuels to transport them. Ceramic tile is more energy-intensive to produce than store or wood, as it is not inherently a green product from an energy point of view, but this is offset to some extent by the greater longevity of the product. There are few specifically green ceramic tile products, although most manufactures recycle their production clay wasted. Glass tile is another classic tile material that is now incorporating some pre- or post- consumer recycled glass. Recycled glass tiles are more energy-efficient to manufacture than ceramic tile, utilizing about ½ as much energy.

Green Kitchen Trends - Part 3 Countertops

2010-12-06T16:05:20Z

Countertops are one area of a kitchen that gets a lot of use. In comparison to appliances, the majority of a countertop’s environmental impact occurs during the raw material extraction and manufacturing processes. Because of these early impacts, reclaimed materials are environmentally preferable to new materials. The materials most commonly thought of as “green” options are concrete, glass tile, paper composite, recycled plastic, terrazzo, and wood. Natural stone is a very durable and long lasting option, but most stones are quarried a long distance from where they installed, which makes them less environmentally friendly. For example, the transportation needed to get a slab of granite from Italy to United States is considerable. Concrete is a more “green” product because it is highly durable. However it also is extremely energy intensive production, but if the aggregate is recycled and locally sourced, then the energy intensity falls. Treated well, concrete can last a lifetime. At the end of it useful life in your kitchen, it can be reused whole or cut for other projects. Another material is glass tiles, which are preferable to ceramic tile because they can have 100 percent recycled content.

Glass tiles scratch more easily than ceramic, however, and may be less uniform, making it necessary to use more grout. Their potential surface irregularity may affect their use as countertops, which is why we recommend them as accents in backsplashes instead of countertop options. Paper composite surfaces are composted of recycled paper and other fibers that have been impregnated with resin. Paper composite countertops handle heat well and are very durable. The material does not nick easily and the darker colors resist staining. Recycled plastic are made from recycled materials such as plastics like yogurt containers, aluminum, or stone. Terrazzo countertops, also known as recycled glass countertops, are popular. Terrazzo consists of crushed stone and glass set in a cement or epoxy substrate that is buffed smooth. It is an excellent “green” product because it lasts approx. 40 years, has low maintenance, and can contain a high amount of recycled content. It is especially “green” if it created with local materials to avoid transportation-related energy use and emissions.

Lastly, wood is a “green” choice for countertops, especially if the wood is certified by the FSC. Untreated wood is truly a renewable resource and it requires much less industrial processing than other countertop materials. However, wood is not a good choice for continually wet areas, such as the space immediately surrounding a sink. It can be burned, scorched, dented and stained, so it requires care and regular cleaning. If it is kept sealed with natural mineral oil to prevent drying, wood is a highly durable and healthy counter material.

Green Kitchen Trends - Part 2 Cabinets

2010-12-01T15:33:28Z

When thinking about cabinetry within an environmentally responsible project, it is important to remember that any style or type of cabinetry can be “green”. The important things to think about are ways it was produced, what it is made of and how much processing it has gone through to get to your home. Suggested types of “green” cabinetry would be local products, re-using some of the cabinetry that you currently have, selecting recycled cabinetry, selecting formaldehyde-free cabinetry, bamboo cabinetry and certified wood cabinetry. Sustainable hardwoods come from forest companies with fair, legal and responsible management practices. The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) issues certification according to their forestry standards. Some woods with medium growth rates, like birch and red oak, can be considered sustainable if new trees are continuously planted and long-term plans are put into place.When cabinetry is produced close to the end location of installation, there are less fossil fuels used to transport the items, reducing the impact on the environment from both a health and sustainability standpoint.

Many times some of your cabinetry may be in perfectly good condition, so changing some is better than replacing all of the cabinetry. In some cases you may be able to find some one else’s old cabinets and re-use them in your project, like the old saying goes “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”.

Some of the specific types of recycled cabinetry are paper, aluminum and metal. Formaldehyde is a chemical that is common in cabinetry because of its preservative properties within finishes applied to cabinetry. However, formaldehyde gives off noxious (harmful) fumes initially. In this case the “new” cabinet smell can be harmful to your health if you do not properly ventilate your home after installation. Now there are manufacturers that offer formaldehyde-free cabinetry, but it is something that you mostly likely will have to request information about when reviewing the cabinetry types for your project. By nature, wood cabinets are “green” because they are made from a renewable source, can be recycled and are biodegradable. Bamboo is another “green” wood type of cabinet because of its fast-growing properties. It is a fast-growing grass with a hollow stem. It is considered eco-friendly because the wood can be harvested every 3-5 years, opposed to the cherry or maple that can be harvested every 35-75 years. Lastly, cabinetry that is made from certified wood is environmentally responsible. Certified wood has been certified by an independent third-party to indicate that it has been grown and harvested using environmentally responsible practices. The Forestry Stewardship Council; affirming that from the moment the lumber was harvested through its manufacture into components at a plant, it was handled in an eco-friendly manner.

Green Kitchen Trends - Part 1

2010-11-29T15:31:26Z

Being “Green” is the biggest trend within the design community and kitchens are definitely a large part of that movement. The definition of “green building” generally refers to design and construction practices that use natural resources wisely in order to prevent damage to our environment. There are many ways to be “green” when trying to incorporate environmentally friendly products and ideas into your remodel. Some of those ways are selecting recycled and/or reclaimed materials, using local vendors and products for the project, selecting energy and water efficient fixtures and finding products that are long lasting. When designing a kitchen there are multiple pieces of the puzzle that must fit together for a well done design and each of these pieces has an effect on the environment. Some of the puzzle pieces would be the cabinetry, countertops, tile, appliances, lighting, ventilation, paint and plumbing. Each of these areas has an impact on the environment and you as the consumer can directly effect not only the world’s environment, but also the environment that you live in every day: your home. Lastly, it is important to remember that your aesthetic choices, whether modern or traditional, there are green materials and designs to match your needs.

In our next few posts we will look at different aspects of kitchen design like cabinets, countertops, tile etc in more depth!