Checklist for a Green Kitchen Remodel
Whether your motivation is a new baby or your own health, remodeling your kitchen and keeping it green is a great idea. Remember that the best place to spend money in a remodeling project is indeed in the kitchen. Adding these two things together: green remodel and solid investment, you have the recipe for success.
So what’s involved in a green remodel of a kitchen? Does going green increase the cost dramatically? Can I find someone with the skills to do it green in my area? These are all fair questions and ones that can be answered quite simply. Let’s start at the end and move back from there. Yes, you can find qualified builders who can help you create your dream in green. Many contractors and subcontractors specialize in or at least have experience in green construction these days. Finding someone to help you realize your dream is as easy as finding qualified subcontractors. More on that later.
There is a fable out there that green needs to be expensive. It most definitely can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Just like any other type of construction, if you are smart and a good shopper, you will find the deals to make your remodel successful and affordable. It is easy to spend more than you need to in a kitchen remodel. It’s like being in the candy store as a kid. “I want one of those and one of those and, oh yeah, one of those too.” Be careful and smart. Shop around and work within a budget. Leave the kid in the candy store or, as a past client of mine once said, “Don’t be the drunken sailor on shore leave” while you shop.
Let’s take a look at what’s involved with remodeling a kitchen. There is a checklist below that will focus your attention in the right areas. Of course, any remodeling you do will be dependent on your own desires and the condition of the room when you begin. Consider the checklist as suggestions towards an end and not the “must do” for success list. Be creative, be smart, and have fun. Always hold the vision of what you actually want in the end in your mind and body. This will help create that vision in your daily actions by motivating you and keeping you focused.
A Checklist for Remodeling the Kitchen
1. Increased wall insulation. Taking care of the envelope is a must. You can do a million things inside the kitchen, but if you sacrifice the insulation envelope, then you have limited the efficiency of the room in a way that cannot be easily updated later. If you have to choose between insulation and a great stove, get the insulation and plan for the stove in the future. The money you save on utility bills can go directly into a “stove savings fund.”
2. Built in recycling center. Having a specifically designed space for composting and recycling your waste will help you actually do that: recycle and compost. If those things are a hassle to do, you will be less likely to actually do them. Make it easy and follow through.
3. Light bulbs. Use energy efficient light bulbs. This could be compact fluorescent bulbs, LED lights, or some other efficient option. Stay away from incandescent whenever possible. They produce massive amounts of heat and waste a lot of energy.
4. Energy Star. Make sure all of your appliances are Energy Star rated. In fact, that’s not enough in my book. Energy Star is a marker, but is not all that impressive in my opinion for overall efficiency. Get the best appliances you can afford. It will be worth it in the end. Like building codes, Energy Star is a minimum standard. You can always build a better building by exceeding code and you can get better appliances by exceeding Energy Star ratings.
5. Natural Flooring. Use materials that will hold up well in the kitchen. Use the most natural materials you can find that fit the requirement of resilience as necessary for the kitchen. Some options include cork, bamboo, earthen floors, sustainably harvested wood, natural tile, and linoleum. There are other options as well, but this is a good starting point. Make sure you choose something that is comfortable under foot as people tend to spend a lot of time standing in the kitchen. Hard floors, such as concrete slabs, can be painful under foot even after a short while.
6. Wall Finish. If you plan to use paint on your walls, be sure it is a low VOC paint. Other options include natural plaster, lime wash, casein paint and oil finishes on wood.
7. Recycled materials for counters. Again, durability is important here as is functionality. There are lot so materials available to choose from for your counters. Consider something recycled. Tile, refurbished wood, steel, glass, and many other options exist.
8. Water. Use flow reducing fixtures to lower your water usage.
9. Natural cabinets. Most cabinet boxes are full of formaldehyde and other nasty glues. Purchase cabinets that are made with natural materials and that don’t use nasty glues in the construction.
10. Vented hood. Be sure the hood is vented to the outside. Returning filtered air into the kitchen is a bad idea if it can be avoided. It keeps moisture trapped in the house and increases the potential for moisture damage such as mold.
11. After the remodel. Be sure to use natural cleaners and materials in your kitchen after the remodel. No point in creating a healthy kitchen only to fill it with chemicals after you have started using it again. Keep in mind that this is where you eat. If ever there were a room in which to avoid chemicals, surely the kitchen would be the place.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrew Morrison is the co-founder of Straw Bale Innovations, LLC, a company specializing in straw bale construction education and the proprietor of www.StrawBale.com. Andrew has a passion for straw bale construction that is matched only by his desire to teach his knowledge to others. For over 15 years, Andrew was a skilled, licensed general contractor with experience in designing and building both conventional and straw bale homes. In 2007 Andrew closed his contracting company to focus entirely on teaching workshops and consulting. You can learn more about his workshops at www.StrawBaleWorkshops.com and his consulting services at www.StrawBaleConsulting.com. Andrew received a BA degree from Hampshire College in 1995 for Glacial Geology. He also has a degree in construction technology form the College of the Redwoods.
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