Green Life & Style
Designing a Green Kitchen
Designing a new kitchen can be as complex as it is exciting. As the most used area of the house it is estimated by the U.S. Department of Energy that more than 40 percent of the energy consumed in the house comes from our kitchens, so nowhere is thinking green more important than in our kitchens.

Designing a new kitchen can be as complex as it is exciting. As the most used area of the house it is estimated by the U.S. Department of Energy that more than 40 percent of the energy consumed in the house comes from our kitchens, so nowhere is thinking green more important than in our kitchens.
 
“There are some easy options you can add to your kitchen design that will help you make a difference,” explains Frank Morris, Jr., Vice President at Granite State Cabinetry, a kitchen design center in Bedford, N.H.
 
For example, many cabinet lines have optional recycling centers built right into the cabinet. These pull-out centers allow you to easily divide your recyclables as you toss them out, a requirement by law now in many states and this is great way to simplify the effort. Another option is a built-in receptacle for compost material right by the work prep area and trash compactors. These additions to your kitchen design can make managing your recyclables an easy daily process and help you make a positive impact on the environment.
 
Morris also suggested looking for products qualified as ENERGY STAR by the Department of Energy since they have to meet strict standards:
 
·        ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers use at least 41 percent less energy than the federal minimum standard for energy consumption; and
·        ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator models use at least 15 percent less energy than required by current federal standards.
 
You can also go “green” in your choice of cabinets. Eco-friendly lines like Omega Cabinetry, Medallion Cabinetry and HomeCrest Cabinetry, just to name a few, specialize in progressive green thinking. All of them are certified by the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association in their Environmental Stewardship Program by using low formaldehyde-emitting composite woods and products from long-term sustainable forestry products or recycled woods.
 
Eco-friendly choices for countertops include stained concrete or indigenous stone, such as granite. These materials are not only water-resistant and durable, but use nontoxic, natural pigments. Granite countertops, for example, seldom need to be replaced versus the basic laminate products, and buying products that are made locally offer energy savings in transportation.
 
For more information, contact Granite State Cabinetry at 603-472-4080, or visit them online at www.gscabinetry.com.