Best House Floor Plans

Check out what materials make up the eco flooring in the kitchen

The kitchen floor leads a filthy life. It’s one of rampant foot traffic as well as a destination where spills, streaks, and stains run amok. But, these days, it’s a space that occupies eco-friendly flooring.

So who are the eco-friendly kitchen-flooring candidates and how do they compare?

Wood Flooring
Starting with the wood floor that is naturally ecologically appropriate, it’s a recyclable material. Some would consider it renewable. Since, many eco-friendly flooring have lead a previous life in a barn, old factory or even a ship, wood floors are as green as eco-flooring goes.

Bamboo Flooring
While bamboo flooring is a popular trend in eco-flooring, it’s not always the most comfortable. Quite similar to grass, bamboo grows back but its extra coarse features are 25 percent rougher than red oak but equivalent in durability. Nonetheless, the variation of distinctive grains and vibrant colors is what makes bamboo flooring so irresistible.

Cork Flooring
When it comes to a bevy of textures and colors to choose from, cork flooring fits the criteria. As far as eco flooring alternatives are concerned, cork flooring reigns supreme for three reasons: 1) It has a lifespan of more than 100 years. 2) As an exceptional clatter diffuser, cork flooring neutralizes room noise with more than 100 million air cells. 3) Cork is also quite resistant to moisture.

Bamboo and Cork Flooring
The latest concept in eco-flooring is a hybrid of cork and bamboo flooring. Ideal for its ability to withstand water moisture, the blend of bamboo and cork is soft to the foot’s underbelly and bears innate antimicrobial qualities.

Rubber Flooring
As for one eco flooring material that can withstand traffic, spills and stains, rubber flooring is a commercial concept turned residential. For years, rubber floors have simplified the kitchen clean up for the likes of Emeril, Flay and Rachel Ray. Manufactured with recycled tires, these eco floors are ultra durable and available in a wide variety of colors.
Regardless of which eco-flooring you opt for (wood flooring, bamboo flooring, cork flooring or rubber flooring)–consider your design scheme and the impact of each spill on your eco-friendly kitchen flooring.
 

In quest of a real energy saving refrigerator or are you looking for eco-friendly cookware? Check out what’s new in green cookware innovation.

Countertops, flooring and cabinets are not the only green options these days. Eco-friendly cookware and kitchen appliances present an array of smart, energy saving alternatives. From cookware to ice cream makers, we went shopping and found some amazing inventions in eco friendly kitchen appliances.

Out of the hundreds of unique eco-friendly cookware gadgets we checked out, three products really stood-out, generating the green cookware vibe. We took three eco appliances from the refrigerator to preparation and here’s what we found and loved:

Eco-friendly Kitchen Appliances
Starting where food is chilled and for its energy-saving capacity, the Sunzander DC Energy Efficient 5.8 cubic Refrigerator really keeps food cool and reduces electricity consumption. With polyurethane insulation and coated steel cabinets, this eco friendly kitchen appliance locks out warm air and maintains frosty temperatures. Small enough to fit in any space, as well as battery-powered, this solar refrigerator requires a photovoltaic (PV) system. (Made by SolarPowerGeneration.com)

Green Kitchen Cookware
In terms of eco-friendly kitchen appliances, there’s overwhelming controversy over green cookware. While certain environmentalists suggest that non-stick pans are safe for use, others contend that these cookery tools should not exceed 350°C.  Nevertheless, kitchen appliance cookware like the line manufactured by Wolfgang Puck offers the best value in eco friendly kitchen cookware.
 
With a ratio of 18/10 stainless, Wolfgang Puck’s cookware promises durability. While the 18/10 stainless feature is charming, it’s not the most redeeming quality of this eco-friendly kitchen appliance. Impeccable heat distribution is what makes this cookware so appealing. It means that food is assured of even temperature dispersion and that meals stay hot, long after its been cooked. And then, there’s the fact that this green cookware is conducive for both electric and gas stove tops. (Wolfgang Puck’s kitchen cookware comes in a 21-Piece Bistro Collection)

An Eco-Friendly Inspired, Kitchen Appliance
As for the ice cream, gelato or sorbet junkie, there’s one green kitchen appliance to die for—the Donvier Eco-Friendly Ice Cream Sorbet Maker. Named in reverence of creating a green environment, this ice cream maker chills sweet nothings fast – as in 20 minutes or overnight. Made in Canada or Japan,  we loved kitchen appliance because it’s fuss free to use and clean and requires no electricity or ice — whatsoever. And for $49, this green cookware pays for itself in energy and in quarts of ice cream –within 12 uses. 

The next time we revisit the topic of non-stick eco-friendly kitchen appliances, we’ll evaluate why certain cookware is hazardous and which ones are safe. Until then, the best home floor plans are green.

Daydreaming about the possibilities of eco-friendly kitchen appliances? Been wondering, how to give an energy excessive kitchen a face-lift and power down? Have any idea of how well the modernly appointed kitchen serves up eco-friendly appliances?

While the innovation of the eco-kitchen appliances continues to grow in number and scale, the functions, features and design are infinite.  So, to sink our teeth into the primary contributor of cooking efficiency, today, we’re looking at the eco-friendly kitchen appliance stove.

The options in eco-kitchen cooking appliances are staggering. Everything from microwave drawers stocked with a drawer to self-automating stoves, there’s so much to consider. Induction cook tops, gas, electric, and microwave are the basic kitchen cooking appliances. While these cooking aids vary in price, they have differing eco-benefits and challenges. For example, out of all the electric cook tops, induction cook-tops are the most eco-friendly; but of course it all depends on your budget. 

While gas energy tends to be more energy efficient, there’s this thing called pollution that it produces. Gas stoves emit some ecologically undesirable elements. There’s carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide as well as nitrogen dioxide. Nevertheless, the ability to finely control heat is the underlying benefit of cooking on a gas cook top.

If you really want to conserve on energy, the wall oven makes for an eco friendly kitchen appliance. While this green oven appliance costs significantly more than a range, it consumes roughly 20 percent less energy in the convection mode model.  But aside from all green living concerns, the wall oven offers a few flexible placement options: can be shelved or placed either at eye, shoulder or torso level.

In terms of electrical stovetop, ones with halogen and glass-topped radiant elements make for fuss-free cleaning. Nevertheless, they are far more expensive and not anymore energy efficient than the electric coil.

As for the most affordable green kitchen appliance alternative, the All-in One Range beats out the wall oven and cook top. But if you’re looking for an oven to delegate some of your cooking responsibilities, you’ll love the Whirlpool Polar Range Stove. This new eco-kitchen cooking appliance goes well beyond cooking food on energy efficiency. An incredible creation, this arsenal of an oven has been dubbed the “Slow Cooker on Steroids.”

It’s a cross between having the Jetson’s stove and an eco-kitchen appliance. The full range aid starts cooking your dinner well before you get home. Programmed and initiated by you, let’s say following a day of client meetings, you are late getting home to start the cooking preparations for a small dinner party, this range chills food to room temperature and then starts the cooking. 

Nevertheless, eco-analysts endorse all oven types with a self-cleaning feature. The reasoning is that the extra insulation padding reduces how much the oven actually consumes. But for the person who uses the feature more than once a month, all conservation savings are off. In other words, self-cleaning your oven too often eats up a lot of energy, promotes toxic fumes and counters the entire “green living philosophy.”

Next time, we will investigate the latest greenery in eco-friendly kitchen appliances.

So are what are the design alternatives for creating eco friendly kitchen cabinets? How does one give an outdated kitchen some of the features of eco-friendly design? It’s all in the cabinetry.

 Aside from the kitchen counter and floors, kitchen cabinets serve as another focal point; aesthetically lacking cabinetry can kill the design appeal in the kitchen. But, again, we first must start with the elements of eco-friendly kitchen cabinets. So to sort some of the misnomers from the facts, here are the most prevalently posed questions and answers:

What elements make up eco friendly kitchen cabinets?

As with most green design objectives, it’s all in the material and how the product was manufactured and transported. As for the eco-friendly kitchen cabinet, think about the amount of consumption it required in production and fuel costs.  Also, think of air quality. Finishes, glues and primers can be toxin bearing agents.

What does VOC have to do with buying green kitchen cabinets?

VOC is the acronym for volatile organic compounds, which is a euphemism or a nice way of saying, “slowly inhaling toxic poisons.” As a result of air quality and health reasons, it’s best to purchase paints, primers and finishes with “no VOC.”

Which materials are ideal for eco kitchen cabinetry?

Sustainable, harvest wood, bamboo as well as recycled materials are good choices. Designing an eco friendly kitchen cabinet is like completing a Sodoku puzzle. Between all the innovative materials, the possibilities of the incredibly unique are limitless. For instance, sunflower seed husks make for compelling design in eco friendly kitchen cabinets.

What are some of the considerations I should make in green design for my kitchen cabinets?

Instead of buying products with VOC, select non-toxic water based finishes and adhesives. Also, no matter what kind of wood you choose, the fiberboards should be free of any formaldehyde.

What’s the easiest way to find a “certified” eco-friendly kitchen cabinet manufacturer?

As a savvy consumer, be sure to look for manufacturers who are ESP certified. Companies with certification, meet a host of eco-friendly kitchen cabinet requirements that impact the environment. Also the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association is another good resource.

Who would think that the space used to feature the salt and peppershaker, prepare a sandwich, or just gather around during a party could cause so much controversy? Designing the ultimate eco-counter is a conflict between design and functionality.
 
After all, it’s not just a place to prepare food. The counter is merely the epicenter of the kitchen. As a focal point, it’s not the type of territory that can withstand compromised design elements. In terms of creating an aesthetically pleasing, green-centric kitchen counter, there are a host of sustainable and recycled products to consider:

• Bamboo
• Concrete
• Glass
• Natural Stone
• Paperstone or Richlite
• Wood
• Scrap Metal

Wood

The wood counter is a contemporary design concept. While it’s a sustainable product, it is vulnerable to weathering. But, it hinges on how the counter space is used. For people, big on using counter space to prepare food, wood can be tricky to clean. Just consider the effects of wine, ice cream and other spilling possibilities—and what the clean up means to the finish of the surface. Not to mention, wood does not take well to liquid stains – especially when improperly sealed.

Bamboo

While bamboo and Plyboo (a plywood bamboo hybrid) are alternatives, many eco-purists contend that the energy used to import goods from places like China and India is just as important as its production. Also, bamboo and Plyboo are not porous and require numerous finishing applications. Nevertheless, the eco-kitchen design makes for exceptional visual appeal.

Natural Stones

In terms of durable, scratch resistance, natural stones like marble and granite are ideal kitchen counter surfaces. The drawback is how much energy does the transport of the counter material cost? As for its redeeming designing elements and functionality, natural stones represent mod simplicity.

Paperstone and Richlite

Comprised of a resin and a paper mix, reports say that Paperstone and Richlite are quite durable eco-counter alternatives. Paperstone is a certifiably recycled paper. Since, it can withstand temperatures up to 350 degrees, it is sensitive to heat and fire. On the design side, Paperstone and Richlite kitchen counters are available in a myriad of colors.

Concrete

As for longevity as well as aesthetics, concrete has a smooth, clean appearance. The negative note is that concrete kitchen counters are not in ample supply. Since concrete expends exorbitant energy in production and transportation, certain green sticklers perceive it as counterproductive to the eco-counter.

Finishes

As for using finishes, on wooden or bamboo counters, look for products with water based coatings. They should not contain VOC or have very low levels of urea formaldehyde.

Corian and Avonite kitchen counters are not eco-centric. Since both materials use resins that are deemed toxic du\ring production and in liquid form, many green advocates frown upon its use. Other eco-counter space questions to add to your home planning checklist include the following:

• Are you looking for something sustainable?
• How important is the product’s durability?
• Is longevity a consideration?
• Is scratch resistance important?
• And what are your design prerequisites?

Meanwhile, the above questions barely scratch the surface of the counter controversy. Remember to consider how often you cook, what types of foods you frequently prepare, in contrast to the kitchen counter most conducive for your needs.

Does anyone know what eco-logical home design is? Obviously, the contractors, engineers and manufacturers of these creations understand the dynamics. Aside from buying an energy efficient refrigerator, what makes an eco-home design really green?

Green design is similar to feng shui.  Just as the ancient Chinese ideology follows a philosophy for a harmonious existence, “going green” adheres to an eco-awareness. Objectives include: quality design, conservation and cost efficiency. (Actually design is optional, but for the sake of this article, it’s a prerequisite).

And, before delving into the components of planning the green qualities of your home, it is important to understand the eco-conscious mindset.

The Ecological Design Philosophy

Are there any credos to being green? Is eco-awareness limited to solar windows, the energy efficiency of appliances or how much one recycles?  Yes and no. Eco-home design goes well beyond our recycling capabilities and energy efficiency. The eco-philosophy evaluates everything from the production process, transportation fuel consumption to the efficiency of the product itself.

Here are a few of the fundamentals behind eco-home design.

Reduce the use of gas consumption. Whether it’s the importation of a box of bamboo from Calcutta, or having the limestone excavated from California and transported to one’s home, both expend gas consumption and energy. The eco-logical concept opts for the most accessible, efficient alternative. That means relying on local resources, vendors and contractors/designers.

Improve air quality. Clean air exceeds the carbon emissions we create and the cigarettes that are smoked. Air quality includes the products used to prime, paint and bond. From the wall to the counter space, use products free of urea formaldehyde and other toxins.

Conserve with sustainable elements while maximizing efficiency. Use recycled products and natural resources to create light or save energy costs. Home furnishing accessories, like cabinets, are recyclable from agencies such as the Building Material Reuse Association (umba.org).

What’s green, clean and a renewable form of energy?

Wind.

Imagine heating or cooling your home with wind. For the last month, wind has been the topic of the energy-supply debate. Experts, familiar with the situation, deem wind energy as cost-effective, optimal for the environment and the ultimate solution for weaning Americans from their dependency on coal burning and natural gas.

How does wind energy work?

Wind energy transforms available power from air in motion to electricity.

Is wind energy a practical solution for powering the home?

Around the home, wind energy is not a new phenomenon. Dating as far back as the late 1890s, the Dutch recognized wind for its energy and power potential. Unlike coal and natural gas, wind does not produce solid waste, require water and it does not contribute emissions of mercury or greenhouse gas (GHG).

Nonetheless, wind is not the only plausible alternative, moving water, plants and of course the sun are other vehicles of renewable energy. Despite, wind’s measly 1 percent energy consumption in the United States, the energy alternative has been slow to catch on. Namely, production, federal guidelines and the contingency of what to do when wind is unavailable – are the primary obstacles to navigate.

Today, coal accounts for the largest source of electrical power in the United States. Coal burning is the foremost contributor of global warming emissions and acid rain. It supplies a substantial carbon footprint of tiny-particle pollution, smog, and toxic metals.

According to Mark Z. Jacobson and Gilbert M. Masters of Department of Civil Environmental Engineering at Stanford University, it costs less to fuel a home with wind energy than coal. That’s 3 to 4 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) weighed against coal’s 5.5 to 8.3 cents per kWh. However, the calculation for coal includes the ecological, and health ramifications of the energy source. Other energy experts contend that the medical, environmental and mortality rate of coal should not be used to compare the two energy sources.

Alleviating our dependency to coal burning as an energy source is vital to extending the life of our environment and interrupting global warming. By the same token, there is a gray area to how much a wind turbine or generator can save a homeowner.  Various manufacturers of the wind energy technology promise a 40 percent savings.
Depending where one resides, installation ranges between $9,000 and $20,000. But, price is not the only determining factor. Before one decides if wind energy is conducive, his home has to be analyzed to determine its wind power viability:

• Height
• Proximity to house, land compatible
• Cost and permit fee
• Ultimate value of savings
• Local legislation, community support
• FAA conducive

Does your area have an adequate wind source?

For instance wind resource maps indicate that Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi have insufficient wind sources.

Visit the United States Department of Energy and Efficiency and Renewable Energy www.eere.energy.gov to learn more about wind energy.

Popular Wind Energy States

Wind Energy Providers

• Abundant Renewable Energy
  www.abundantre.com 
• Bergey Windpower Co.
  www.bergey.com 
• Distributed Energy Systems
  www.distributed-energy.com
• Energy Maintenance Service
  www.energyms.com
• Entegrity Wind Systems
  www.entegritywind.com 
• Gaia-Wind Ltd
  www.gaia-wind.com 
• Lorax Energy
  www.lorax-energy.com
• Solar Wind Works
  www.solarwindworks.com
• Southwest Windpower Co.
  www.windenergy.com
• Wind Energy Solutions Canada
  www.windenergysolutions.ca

Final Note: Homeowners or wind turbine investors should determine if their state offers a rebate for switching from coal to wind energy.