© Good Housekeeping
Going "green" in your kitchen doesn't have to mean sacrificing style or quality. With the latest earth-friendly materials, appliances and other products, you can be kind to the environment and still have a kitchen that works hard and looks good. Whether you're designing a kitchen from scratch or just replacing an old fridge, green options are available.
Countertops
Counters should, of course, be durable and easy to clean. A number of green options fit that description, including IceStone, a mix of 100% recycled glass and concrete that comes in many colors, for about $75 per square foot (icestone.biz). Or opt for surfacing made from abundant natural materials, such as quartz, $70 to $120 per square foot (caesarstone.com), or even recycled paper or hemp, $90 to $120 per square foot (richlite.com).
Cabinets
Look for formaldehyde-free units that are either made of solid wood that was responsibly harvested from managed forests or are made of an alternative material such as wheatboard, a composite that incorporates wheat straw. Finishes should be nontoxic, either water-based or that emit low levels of volatile organic compounds. Cabinets by Alno are constructed entirely from recycled resources.
© Good Housekeeping
Floors
When selecting kitchen flooring, pick products that are as lasting as they are environmentally sound. Old-fashioned linoleum, which is made from all-natural materials and which costs $3 to $4 per square foot, is a great choice. Or try wood flooring made from Forest Stewardship Council-certified sources, $11 and up per square foot, or from a renewable resource such as bamboo, $11 and up per square foot (teragren.com), or cork, $10 and up per square foot (www.wicanders.com). Concrete Solutions floor tiles ($15 per square foot) are colored with natural pigments (artistictile.com).
Sinks and faucets
Seek out a sink made with recycled content, either in stainless steel (julien.ca) or copper, $450 to $800 (nativetrails.net), or shop salvage yards for a gently used model. Be sure to choose a faucet with an aerator, which injects bubbles into the stream, producing the same pressure with less volume (kohler.com), thereby saving water.
© Good Housekeeping
Tiles
Usually a key design focal point, the backsplash is no place to compromise. Fortunately, a range of eco-friendly tiles is available, including recycled-glass tiles ($20 per square foot), from Eco-Friendly Flooring (ecofriendlyflooring.com).
Cooktops and ovens
Electric-induction cooktops, $1,500 to $4,000 (kitchenaid.com), heat food by transferring electromagnetic energy directly to the pan, using about half as much energy as conventional models. When shopping for an oven, choose one with the Energy Star label, and use the microwave whenever you can for energy savings as high as 80% (geappliances.com).
Article continues below
© Good Housekeeping
Refrigerators
Refrigerators are the second-biggest energy hogs in the house (heating and cooling systems are first). If you're replacing an older model, find one with the Energy Star label, which designates appliances that use 10% to 50% less energy than standard models, and don't buy a bigger fridge than you really need. The Elite Side-by-Side refrigerator ($1,799) is Energy Star-rated (kenmore.com).
Water, light and air
Installing a water-filtration system, starting at around $100 (culligan.com), or a filtering faucet, $200 to $800 (moen.com), will save a bundle on bottled water. Reduce your use of electricity by planning plenty of windows to let in sun. Adequate ventilation (broan.com) will ensure more healthful indoor air quality.
© Good Housekeeping
Dishwashers
The latest dishwashers use significantly less water per load than hand washing, thanks to sensor technology that customizes the amount of water to what’s being cleaned. Bosch's Ascenta dishwasher ($549 to $799) exceeds Energy Star standards by 36% (bosch.com).
© Good Housekeeping
Accessories
Add earth-savvy style with recycled-glass dinnerware, $60 to $189 (vivaterra.com), and bowls made of fast-growing bamboo, such as these Lacquerware ones ($29), from Bambu (greenfeet.com).
