Envirnomental Conscious Kitchen Remodel

Bellingham Real Estate

Michael James, REALTOR/EcoBroker

Kitchens are often the heart of the home, where families and friends mingle. the goal of greening your kitchen should include natural lighting, good ventilation, low toxic finishes (VOC paints), energy and water efficient appliances, and surfaces that are durable, cleanable and of course aesthetically pleasing.

What is the most important environmental problems with conventional kitchens?

Wasted energy consumption, followed closely by bad lighting and bad ventilation are just a few of the main reasons to remodel a kitchen. The kitchen is the most energy intensive room in the house. Over-sized and energy inefficient appliances are the number one problem with conventional kitchens today, over consumption of water in energy inefficient dishwashers, chemical sensitization due to over exposure to high emitting formaldehyde chemical toxins in cabinetry, poor lighting and ventilation.

Up to 60% of your energy bills comes from kitchen usage in the home.

Benefits?

I consider the most prominent is the positive mental health benefits of having a brighter, well ventilated work space for all homes owners. As for the physical health benefits, the green remodeling process eliminates those toxic paints and chemicals that we cannot see. Surfaces that can be cleaned easily with no exposure to toxic chemicals, lower injury rate having the appliance put in a more efficient location and the appliances themselves are smaller.

Invest in energy efficient appliances, they can save you hundreds of dollars a year, paying for themselves in just a few short years.

Add lots of natural light (windows), better ventilation, environmentally friendly flooring (natural wood floors/stones), energy efficient lighting, non toxic cabinets, recycle area/cabinets, water flow controlled fixtures, water filter systems, create an herb growing area and proper storage bins.

Please feel free to share this with your clients that may be considering a kitchen remodel. Remodel "Green"

Michael James, REALTOR/EcoBroker FAIRHAVEN REALTY