Adding Some Green to Your CT Kitchen Remodeling
If you’re looking to go green with your kitchen remodel, you’re already moving in the right direction. Going green means you’re making sound decisions based on your budget and lifestyle. These decisions aren’t always easy, especially when these products can prove to be more expensive than its competitor. Thankfully, there’s a growing marketplace for stylish green products that’s helping lower costs, making it easier and less expensive to have a kitchen with an equally charming aesthetic. Here are a few ideas and tips that will help put the green into your CT kitchen remodeling.
Green Countertops
Green countertops offer similar characteristics to each other, such as low-toxicity binders and recyclable, sustainable content. Not to mention, they’re extremely durable. For example, Eco Top counters consist of renewable bamboo fiber and post-consumer recycled fiber. Vetrazzo makes countertops that are 85% recycled glass while Sqauk Mountain Stone is made from recycled glass and paper, cement and reclaimed fly ash.
Sustainable Kitchen Cabinets
These cabinets are made from wood products produced using sustainable forest management practices. They include formaldehyde-free glues and give off little to no toxic fumes. When shopping, ask if the cabinet boxes are built with straw board or wheat board. These products are made from agricultural waste and feature formaldehyde-free binders. They’re surprisingly strong and exceed the standard for medium density particleboar – the material used to make cabinet boxes.
Appliances
Energy Star reduces energy consumption and saves utility costs, testing and rating as the most energy-efficieent models of any product category. Some states even offer rebates for buying these appliances. Dishwashers have an energy saving cycle that operates for a shorter period of time, saving both energy and water. Dishwashers with an air-dry option dry dishes with circulation instead of other heating elements. Energy Star models are 25% more energy-efficient than the federal standards for energy consumption.
Buying a new refrigerator can save you money on energy costs because with manufacturers consistently improving technology, today’s models are 75% more energy efficient than those manufactured 20 years ago.
