In many areas of work and life, there are lots of good reasons to go sustainable. This extends to home design as well. The most obvious of these reasons is, of course, that this is good for the planet, but eco-friendly solutions and products also have a massive market appeal these days. There are endless companies and products now deciding to take the eco-friendly approach not only because it is the responsible thing to do, but also because it is actually good for business. And home design is no different.
CityHome Collective, a real estate brokerage with expertise in luxury homes and condos, maintain that eco-friendly solutions actually boost a home’s value and appeal to buyers. This is one of the reasons such approaches are only becoming increasingly common. Furthermore, of all the areas in the home, the kitchen is perhaps the one space with the biggest potential for attractive eco-friendly cachet. If you are looking to sell your home any time soon and are chasing this added value, creating an eco-friendly kitchen is surely the place to begin.
From Scratch?
When creating an eco-friendly kitchen as the centerpiece of an eco-friendly home, there are two ways to go about it. This is either building an eco-friendly kitchen from scratch or renovating an existing one to make it more eco-friendly. Naturally, these plans have their differences, but there is a lot of overlap too.
Nevertheless, as you have probably heard, reuse is a massive part of sustainability. Better even than recycling, reusing items ensures a net-zero environmental footprint and is one of the surest ways to operate sustainably. This means that, even when designing a brand-new kitchen for your home, you may want to reuse a lot of what is already available to hand.
Tips for Creating an Eco-friendly Kitchen
There is no one way to go about creating an eco-friendly kitchen. So much depends upon your particular situation, the space you are working with, and whether you are renovating or creating a whole new space. Nevertheless, there are a few general tips that can be applied in the majority of cases.
Use Sustainable Materials
This tip might sound like it applies mainly to new kitchen designs, but renovation can also involve the replacement of old materials with new. For an eco-friendly kitchen, you should ensure these materials are sustainable. Using things like soldi timber or plywood for cabinets and worktops is a great place to start.
Save Water
Every kitchen, of course, is a place where running water is available. And sustainable kitchens regularly ensure that these sources of water are sustainable and do not use more than is necessary. Low-flow faucets are a terrific addition and can save as much as fifty percent of your water consumption.
Energy Efficient Appliances
A kitchen isn’t a kitchen unless it is well kitted out with every appliance that is required for cooking and dining. Naturally, the sustainable option is to ensure that these appliances are themselves energy efficient. Energy-using appliances are rated from G up to A+++. For the energy conscious, as close to A+++ is the best way to go.
Electric Over Gas
Related to the last tip is this one regarding how you produce cooking heat in your kitchen. Generally speaking, electricity is preferable to gas. And the best thing here is that there need be no trade off on effectiveness either. An induction heater, for example, can boil water much faster than a gas stove.
In conclusion, creating a sustainable kitchen, whether through renovation or original design, is a win for you and a win for the planet.
