This article gives me a chance to show you the different products you can incorporate into your kitchen remodel and some general principals to follow when doing any green renovation.  By no means is this a complete list of options, but it is a good starting point for you to explore some of your green options. 

So let's begin, we are going to start with cabinets and then move on to the other major components of the kitchen.

Green Cabinets

When you think of green cabinets what comes to mind?  Maybe some new space age material that is good for the environment?  Maybe painting your cabinets green?

The easiest approach to green cabinets is to keep your existing ones!  I know your cabinets aren't made of the mysterious, space age, eco-frindly material, but they are already there!  Any new product you put into your home is going to hurt the environment in some way, even if it is just the pollution caused by transporting it to your home.  Maybe refinishing your cabinets is the way to go; painting your cabinets a new color, sanding them down and staining them, or just leaving them and changing other areas of your kitchen.  This is one of the greenes things you can do with your cabinets. 

If you want new cabinets there are several factors to consider.  First, where they are from.  Local is always better,  This reduces the impact from fossil fuels consumed during transportation.  Second, what they are made from.  There are a variety of sustainable products that you can use in cabinets.  Rapidly renewable materals are considered green.  A rapidly renewable material, like bamboo, is something that has a growth cycle of 10 years or less.  Third, look for composite materials that do not use urea-formaldehyde based resins.  Plywood and particle board are usually made using these resins to bind the wood together.  Now companies are offering soy based resins that eliminate the need for urea-formaldehyde and sometimes can be found at little or no additioinal cost.  Fourth, use FSC (Forrest Stewardship Council) certified wood.  FSC wood is more expensive but you know it comes from forests that are cared for an harvested in an environmentally friendly way.  Finally, use a low VOC paint or stain on your cabinets.  We'll look more into VOCs later in this article.

Cabinet Review:

• Reuse if possible (or salvage)
• By Local - a 500 mile radius (including harvesting, manufacturing, etc.) from you home is the current standard
• Use Rapidly Renewable Materials (10 year life cycle)
• No Urea-formaldehyde
• FSC Certified
• No or Low VOC Finishes

Green Countertops

When looking for a green countertop think recycled.  Most green countertops incorporate recycled something or another.  Recycled glass is a popular choice.  Pieces of recycled glass are mixed with concrete and then a protective coating is added.  Recycled metal is also a popular choice.  Metal shavings are mixed with a special resin which can be dyed different colors.  This is called an alkemi countertop.  FInally, recycled or reclaimed wood is a good choice for a green countertop.

Countertop review:

• Think Recycled
• Recycled Glass
• Recycled Metal
• Recycled / Reclaimed Wood

Green Plumbing

Plumbing fixtrures generally aren't made form green materials but here we are looking at conserving water with plumbing not the materials.  The Energy Policy Act of 1992 sets the standard for flow rates for faucets, toilets, urinals, and shower heads.  To meet the EPA guidelines your faucet cannot exceed a flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute.  It is going to be almost impossible to find a fixture today that does not meet these standards.  Since the Energy Policy Act the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency, I know it gets confusing) has started the Water Sense program which sets standards for water efficient faucets and toilets.  Unfortunately, it doesn't rate kitchen faucets, so no help there.  You can, however, use a Water Sense certified aerator which will reduce the flow rate of a typical faucet.  Also you can look for a faucet that is at least 20% more efficient than the EPA of 1992 (Act not Agency).  Your plumber or general contractor should also be able to show you efficient faucets for your kitchen.

Plumbing review:

• EPA of 1992 sets the standard for non-green fixtures, exceed it by at least 20%
• Use a Water Sense approved aerator

Green Flooring

Green flooring has come a long way.  You can look for Green Label and Green Label Plus pad and carpets (not that you are going to put carpet in your kitchen), rapidly renewable materials like bamboo, and old classics like rubber, linoleum and cork flooring.  Again you can reuse the principles fro each of these categories in all of them.  Consider an FSC certified floor, a reclaimed wood floor, or refinish the one you've got.  Remember to watch those VOCs when refinishing.

 Flooring review:

• Use rapidly renewable or FSC certified woods
• Take a look at rubber, linoleum and cork
• Use reclaimed flooring
• Refinish or keep your existing floor

Green Appliances and Lighting

This one is simple.  Look for Energy Star appliances and lights.  They are everywhere.  If you see the little star logo you're doing good.  Plus they will save money on your utility bills.  Remember light fixtures as well as those fancy coiled bulbs can be Energy Star certified.

 Appliance and Lighting review:

• Energy Star!

Green Paints and Coatings

Okay, we'll finally get to those VOCs.  VOC (volitile organic compounds) are organic compounds that are released as gas into the air under normal circumstances.  They are normally carbon based and include ketones and hydrocarbons.  VOC are found in paints, stains, glues, and many other adhesives and coatings.  Look for products that have no or low VOC content.  VOCs are generally listed in grams per liter (g/L).  Greel Seal (GS) and South Coast Air Quality Management Division (SCAQMD) sets the standards for VOC limits.  Flat paints should contain no more than 50 g/L and non-flats should be below 150 g/L.  Your paint supplier or general contractor should be able to show you a variety of low VOC paints.

Paint and Coating review:

• Flats 50 g/L
• Non-flats 150 g/L

So let's look at the big picture.  This applies to your whole house not just your kitchen.  There are a few key principles when making your kitchen or home green.  First, reuse or salvage.  You can find beautiful products that someone else has thrown out.  Whats the old adage?  One man's trash is another's treasure.  Second, buy local.  It reduces fossil fuel use and stimulates your local economy.  Third, use rapidly renewable materials.  These are materials that have less than a 10 year life cycle.  Fourth, if a product isn't new it doesn't mean it's not green.  Rubber, linoleum, and cork have been around for a while and they are green.  Finally, limit VOC use.  This will improve your indoor air quality and result in a "healthier" home.

 I hope this was informative.  For mor information shoot me an email via the contact us page or give me a call.