Many homeowners today want a green kitchen. Toxin-free, sustainable and energy-efficient choices for one’s home are a responsible approach towards the environment. If you’re thinking of transforming your kitchen into an eco-friendly haven, we’ve got some ideas for you in this blog post.

Choose Sustainable Materials

Whether you’re going for a full renovation or a partial renovation, choose sustainable materials for your kitchen cabinetry, countertops, backsplashes, flooring, etc. The top choices available are FSC-certified timber, bamboo, cork, recycled stone composite, natural stone, recycled tile, and linoleum made from linseed oil and renewable cork.

• Cabinetry: The most common material kitchen cabinets are made from is particleboard and MDF (medium-density fibreboard) which contain urea-formaldehyde adhesive. They’re not environment-friendly as they contain harmful chemicals. Eco-friendly alternatives include FSC-certified plywood, wheatboard, and formaldehyde-free MDF. For the exteriors, bamboo, wood veneers, wood or stainless steel make good eco-friendly choices. For cabinetry finishing, choose water-based sealants, formaldehyde-free paints, low-VOC finishes, and solvent-free adhesives.
• Countertops: When choosing eco-friendly kitchen countertops, make sure that the substrate is composed of FSC-certified plywood, wheatboard or formaldehyde-free MDF. The most popular environment-friendly countertop materials are granite, quartz, marble, recycled glass composite, wood, stainless steel, and concrete.
• Flooring: Considering the amount of time you spend in the kitchen and the frequency of spillage, bamboo, cork, and environment-friendly linoleum are some of the suitable flooring choices. Linoleum is also one of the most affordable flooring options for an eco-friendly kitchen.

Choose Sustainable Appliances

Replace your old appliances with new energy-efficient and eco-friendly models. Depending on your budget, replace your refrigerator, dishwasher, freezer, and ovens. Check out the Energy Star rating when purchasing the appliances. Also, look for a device that can switch off all your devices with a single switch. This will reduce energy usage. You can also wire your kitchen overhead lights with their own switches so that you can turn them on only when needed.

Ventilate

Your eco-friendly kitchen design should have multiple sources of energy-efficient natural ventilation that lets in fresh air and light from outside. Position all energy-efficient windows on the exterior walls of the kitchen and the dining area. These windows will enhance indoor ventilation. The ideal way to position your windows for natural cooling is to place two windows directly across from each other. Open both the windows when it’s breezy and comfortable outside. The air will blow through the kitchen producing a cooling effect, thereby saving energy of your air conditioner.

Additional Tips

• Create a place for recycling materials in the same location as your garbage bin. Place stylish bins for discarding different types of kitchen waste. Keep separate bins for discarding materials like glass, paper, metal and organics for a composting pile.
• Purchase low-flow taps and faucets with aerators or flow restrictors for your sink to save water.
• Choose kitchen paints that have low VOCs.
• Enhance the indoor air quality of your kitchen by placing potted plants.

Follow these tips when upgrading or renovating your kitchen into an eco-friendly area. If you’re not sure how to design your eco-friendly kitchen yourself, consult a kitchen renovator who is committed to preserving the environment.

For high-quality kitchen products, contact Kitchen Nation at 905-595-1211 or request a quote.