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Green Kitchen Design
By Designing an Eco-Friendly Kitchen You Can
Save a Bundle on Annual Kitchen Energy Costs
By Mark J. Donovan
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Whether you’re building a new home or
simply remodeling your kitchen make sure to develop a green kitchen design. By
designing a green kitchen you’ll not only save yourself a small fortune in
annual energy costs, you’ll also be reducing your personal carbon footprint and
playing your role in protecting the planet. Even if you’re just updating the
kitchen appliances you can do yourself and the world a favor by purchasing
Energy Star appliances. Energy star labeled kitchen appliances are consider in
the top 25% of appliances as it relates to low energy use.
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Green Kitchen Design and Kitchen Appliances
As I’ve already alluded to, chief on the list for a green kitchen design is the
selection of kitchen appliances. Energy Star kitchen appliances are
approximately 75% more energy efficient than many kitchen appliances that are
only a decade or two old. At the top of this list when selecting green kitchen
appliances is the refrigerator. Refrigerators are the workhorses of kitchens and
are traditionally notorious for consuming large amounts of energy to keep food
products cold and safe. As a result, if you want to spend your kitchen appliance
budget wisely spend a few extra dollars on buying the highest rated Energy Star
refrigerator you can find. After the refrigerator, the dishwasher is your next
highest energy consumption hog, so again choose an Energy Star appliance with a
high Energy Rating number.
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Green Kitchen Design and Lighting
Another key area when developing a top notch green kitchen design is in the
choice of lighting. Consider using low voltage lighting, such as LED strips
mounted underneath the upper kitchen cabinets. Also consider using low voltage
LED, CFL bulbs, and/or halogen light bulbs for spot lighting over the key
kitchen workspaces. Though more expensive than the tried and true incandescent
light bulbs these types of bulbs can save you up to 75% on electricity energy
costs and last a lot longer.
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Select Locally Manufactured Kitchen Products
When choosing kitchen cabinets, flooring and other kitchen products for your
kitchen design select ones that are made from materials indigenous to your local
area. Not only will you save on manufacturing and transportation costs when
purchasing these products, you’ll again reduce the negative impact to the
environment on incorporating these items into your kitchen design.
Also consider buying kitchen cabinet and flooring products that are manufactured
from renewable wood products, such as bamboo or cork.
Water Consumption
When selecting kitchen plumbing fixtures choose ones that have low flow rates or
features that limit the use of water consumption.
Kitchen Recyclable Bins
Include a location in your green kitchen design for recyclable bins. By
including recyclable bins you can do your share in reducing the amount of trash
that ends up in the local landfill.
With these simple and easy tips you can develop a green kitchen design that will
look great, save on annual operating energy costs, and make our planet a better
place to live.
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For help on your kitchen design, see my
Kitchen Remodeling Bid Sheet. The Kitchen Remodeling Bid Sheet
provides a request for quote checklist section that you can provide to
prospective kitchen remodeling contractors. It also includes a comprehensive
kitchen remodeling cost breakdown table, in Microsoft Excel format, that allows
the contractor to include his projected remodeling costs for every phase of the
project.
How to Finance your Home Remodeling Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
Related Kitchen Design Articles
Green Kitchen Appliances
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