4 Eco-Friendly Kitchen Renovations
In a city as diverse as Ottawa, there’s no shortage of styles for your kitchen, from modern to country-chic and everything in between. Whether you’re daydreaming about stainless steel or cozy breakfast nooks, there’s is a new trend that is not only good for you, but great for the environment as well: eco-friendly kitchen renovations!
Creating an eco-friendly kitchen is all about the materials you use, and how energy-efficient your appliances are. There are a wide variety of kitchen renovations Ottawa homeowners can choose from, whether they want a complete eco-friendly overhaul or just a few additions to make their home a little greener.
Countertops
If you want to make your kitchen a little greener, countertops are a great way to start. There are many great environmentally friendly countertops out there that are made from recycled or sustainable materials. For example, bamboo countertops add a unique look to your kitchen, but come from a completely renewable resource. Other great options include recycled paper and recycled glass countertops, which are designed to replicate well-known styles.
Flooring
Similar to countertops, making your floors eco-friendly means choosing a style of flooring made from sustainable materials and/or materials that do not harm the environment when they are extracted and used. Cork is a prime example of an eco-friendly material that can be used to create a great-looking and long-lasting kitchen floor.
Cabinetry
You can create an entire eco-friendly kitchen from top to bottom. Cabinets aren’t any different. Next time you’re choosing a new cabinet set, ask about the materials used to make them. Cabinets made from eco-friendly materials often look just like any other cabinet, but are made from renewable materials. Unlike most commercial cabinetry, eco-friendly cabinets are not treated with formaldehyde and have little to no volatile organic compounds included in the material or finish. Salvaged wood or wheat-board cabinets are a great example of beautiful cabinets made from completely reused and repurposed materials.
Energy Efficient Appliances
As good as it is to use eco-friendly materials in your kitchen renovations, the single best way to go green is by improving the efficiency of your appliances. Appliances and electronics consume a lot of energy, which doesn’t much help conservation. By choosing appliances with an official Energy Star seal, you can reduce your energy intake, taking a little pressure off our natural resources and the surrounding environment.
Going green does not mean having to sacrifice style and comfort. Instead of renovating your kitchen for aesthetic purposes alone, why not create a kitchen that looks great and decreases your carbon footprint? There are many ways we as humans can help protect our fragile ecosystem, and we can start with an eco-friendly kitchen renovation.
