For many of us, our kitchens are the room in our home where we spend a significant portion of our time. It can also be the heart of our home, a gathering place for family and friends where memories are made. When we are spending so much time in one space of our home, it seems necessary that we ensure it is running as efficiently as possible, and this includes taking into consideration its environmental sustainability.
If you are looking to remodel your home’s kitchen, considering a sustainable development should be at the top of your priority list. An environmentally sound kitchen can have numerous positive repercussions, from a reduced environmental footprint, less water and food waste, and a contribution to a cleaner, healthier planet for future generations to enjoy. Apart from implementing more sustainable practices into your day to day life and kitchen habits, there are several key features you may want to consider during the renovation process for your new space.
7 Ways To Create a Sustainable Kitchen Design
1. Invest In Energy Efficient Fixtures
One of the simplest ways to increase the sustainability of your home’s kitchen is by investing in energy efficient appliances and energy efficient lighting. These small changes can have a major impact on the overall environmental sustainability and footprint of your household by dramatically reducing your energy usage. When you choose energy efficient appliances that use less energy than traditional fixtures, you can also enjoy the added benefit of a reduced energy bill. Finding lighting solutions that offer increased energy efficiency, such as LED lights, can significantly lessen your environmental impact.
2. Opt For Quartz Countertops
Choosing quartz for your kitchen countertops is an eco-friendly choice, especially when considered in comparison to traditional granite or marble materials. These quarried stones are finite resources which require quarrying to retrieve; once retrieved, they cannot be replaced. Quarrying can be a very harmful to the environment, however this process is not necessary for retrieving quartz, as it is an engineered stone. This material is the perfect addition to any sustainable kitchen design due to its environmental benefits, high level of customization, as well as its convenient minimal required maintenance.
3. Choose Sustainable Materials
Including recycled materials in the construction of your new kitchen is a unique way to repurpose materials by giving them a new life, while simultaneously making your kitchen renovation much more environmentally conscious. This can include incorporating materials such as reclaimed wood and recycled glass. Aside from recycled materials, opting for more sustainable materials in your kitchen remodel can dramatically reduce your renovation’s environmental impact. Sustainable options to look out for are stainless steel, bamboo, paper composite, aluminum, cork and much more.
4. Find Water Efficient Fixtures
Choosing water efficient fixtures for your kitchen design is an excellent way to ensure a more sustainably functioning kitchen in your home. Low flow faucets can reduce water consumption by 30-50%, reducing excess water waste during your day to day activities. An alternative solution is the addition of a low flow aerator to your existing sink set up, which affixes directly onto your faucet and adds air to flowing water. This can result in a reduction of water flow by up to 50%.
5. Use Plastic-Free Paint
Traditional paint often contains microplastics which act as a binding agent. These microplastics are extremely harmful to the environment, namely our water systems; each time a paint brush is rinsed or cleaned, these harmful particles enter our water stream and wreak havoc on aquatic life. There are many eco-friendly paint companies that focus on creating sustainable painting materials that opt for natural ingredients that act as binding agents, often also replacing harmful chemicals with more environmentally and health conscious choices.
6. Timeless Designs Over Trends
When planning your sustainable kitchen renovation, it is always an environmentally conscious choice to opt for more timeless, classic kitchen designs over current trends. Sustainability and longevity go hand in hand; for a kitchen to be truly sustainable, it must be able to stand the test of time, both in terms of the physical performance of appliances and features, but also in terms of style. Avoiding fad trends that will need to be replaced or remodeled in only a few short years is essential to creating a sustainable space in your home that you will love for years to come.
7. Find A Sustainability-First Contractor
When embarking on a mission to create an environmentally friendly, sustainable and energy efficient kitchen for your home, enlisting the help of a contractor that specializes in sustainable design is crucial. A specialist in the field will be able to offer the highest quality expert advice, working with you to plan a functional space that is tailored to your specific and unique requirements.
At Sustainable Design Group, we are proud to offer the very best sustainable homes, using industry-leading construction techniques paired with the most efficient eco friendly materials to create a space that can handle your family’s day to day operations, while also helping you to save money long term. Our team of dedicated designers provide advanced interior design services that put the focus on sustainability and functionality, and ensure you are included every step of the way. Contact us to learn more about the services we offer today!
