Considering a Green Kitchen Remodel?

Posted on: June 05, 2007

Sustainability and Green Building are becoming common terms, and putting them into practice benefits everyone. If you are contemplating the remodel of your home, you may want to consider choosing sustainable materials. Most people these days consider granite counter-tops the best choice; but they are becoming passé, and they use tremendous resources in the production and distribution of this product. Not exactly a green choice. Of course you will still want the counter-top to be non-toxic, durable, non-porous, stain resistant, scratch-proof, and solid for long life and low maintenance. In addition, green counter-tops are resource-efficient and attach directly to the cabinet, which eliminates toxic underlayment and adhesives. But, what are the best green choices?

According to SustainableLife you have many options. Recycled glass, recycled ceramic tile, and recycled plastic are the first choices that come to mind. These are easily attainable and are reasonably priced. I suggest visiting The Rebuilding Center on N. Mississippi for recycled building materials; this is the most green choice because reusing products reduces land fill and it doesn’t require additional resources to produce. You may find some salvaged copper, stainless steel, or wood that would fit your project at The Rebuilding Center. If these choices don’t appeal to you, consider a butcher-block counter made of high-yield sustainable woods like bamboo, Northwest Madrone, Claro Maple. Environmental Home Supply on SE Taylor St. sells the last two options. They also have a Northwest product called PaperStone, which uses post consumer paper and resin. Other options include: Slatescape, and EcoCem.

Portland’s Office of Sustainable Development also offers a downloadable Green Home Remodeling Guide. It is a great resource to start your project; it includes photos, ideas, methods, materials, and checklists—definitely worth a download.

Have you run across other environmentally sustainable products for kitchen renovations? Please share them with our readers in the comment section.