How Do I Design an Eco Kitchen?

These days, one thing on the minds of many Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC consumers is how they can become more environmentally conscious in their day-to-day routines. Fortunately, “going green” doesn’t have to mean building your home out of sticks and washing your clothes in a river – modern green design is stylish and can be catered to your exact needs and personal tastes.

As a kitchen remodeling company, we’ve been helping clients create the perfect green kitchen design for over 25 years. If you want to be more eco-friendly without compromising the appearance of your kitchen, we can help.

Do you prefer a green kitchen design but don’t know where to begin? Hopefully some of these ideas will inspire you!

Green Kitchen Design: Energy Efficient Appliances

Kitchen appliances are some of the most frequently used appliances in your home. Your refrigerator, for example, runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Manufacturers like Sub-Zero and Wolf offer a wide selection of energy efficient appliances, including refrigerators and freezers, cook tops, ovens and more.

Green Kitchen Design: Eco-Friendly Countertops

There are a number of environmentally friendly countertop options to choose from that are as beautiful as they are sustainable. Eco-friendly countertops come from post-consumer recycled products, such as highly durable recycled paper. Recycled paper countertops look nothing like the reams of paper that come to mind – instead, they have a smooth shine and are available in almost any color imaginable. Recycled paper countertops also have a heat resistance of up to 350^oF, are scratch resistant and are made of material sanitary enough to be used as a cutting board.

If you want environmentally friendly counters but prefer a more unique look, bamboo countertops might be more your style. Bamboo countertops are available in a variety of natural stains, and are colored all the way through the material so any scratches will hardly show up.

Green Kitchen Design: Low-Flow Kitchen Faucets

When many people hear low-flow kitchen faucet, they worry it means simple tasks such as filling a pot with water will take longer. Fortunately, this is not the case – low-flow faucets allow you to save water without affecting your normal kitchen routines. Low-flow kitchen faucets are fitted with sensors that shut off the water if you forget to turn it off while doing something else, and they make use of aerators which slightly decrease the amount of water used. Low-flow kitchen faucets come in a variety of traditional and modern designs, so you will have no trouble finding one that fits your style.

Green Kitchen Design: LED Lighting

LED lighting can do more than just light up electronic screens. LED lighting can be installed underneath kitchen cabinets to illuminate countertops, installed as track lighting along walls and can even be used as the main lighting fixture in a green kitchen. Far from the harsh, bright light that many people think of, LED lighting can be soft and ambient, enhancing the look of any kitchen. The best part about LED lights, besides their energy conserving characteristics, is their long lifespan – while traditional bulbs need to be changed every few months, LED light bulbs can last upwards of 20 years.

Maintain Your Green Kitchen with Green Cleaning Products

After you’ve put so much effort into designing a green kitchen, keep it well-maintained with cleaning products that are as environmentally friendly as the kitchen itself. Many traditional cleaning products are petroleum based, meaning they are harmful to the environment (and potentially to your health). Many grocery stores these days have a wide variety of environmentally friendly cleaning products to choose from, so you will not have a problem keeping your kitchen clean and green.

These days, being sustainable doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your home’s comfort. If you want to experience the beauty of sustainable living in your Maryland, Virginia or Washington, DC kitchen, call the experts at Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens or come visit our showroom in Rockville, Maryland today!