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Celebrate Earth Day Every Day with These 4 Eco-Friendly Kitchen Countertops

Will you be making some eco-friendly choices this year on Earth Day? Maybe you’re considering a eco-friendly kitchen countertop? Bamboo, recycled paper composites, recycled glass, and stainless steel are all eco-friendly countertop materials, but when choosing which is right for your home, a decision can be difficult. Here is a little background as well as some pros and cons for each type. Bamboo Bamboo is often one of the first materials that come to mind when people think of eco-friendly alternatives. It is naturally stronger and harder than most other hardwoods, formaldehyde-free, and naturally bacteria-resistant. Although a rapidly renewable resource, almost all commercial bamboo comes from China, so the energy used for its transportation to the United States is a drawback. It also stains easily and is susceptible to scratches and burning. Recycled Paper Composite Paper composite countertops are made of post-consumer recycled paper and other fibers held together by a resin. They are durable, easy to clean, resistant to nicks, somewhat stain-resistant, and heat resistant to 350 degrees. They are harder than wood and a great deal lighter than natural stone or concrete. However, recycled paper composite countertops aren’t scratch-proof, are susceptible to chemical damage (no abrasive cleaners!) and they will need an occasional rubdown with mineral oil, possibly even sanding, to refresh them. Although these countertops come from non-petroleum recycled sources (excluding the resin), they are not recyclable because of the small amount of plastic resin content. Recycled Glass Shards of colorful recycled glass pieces are mixed into a cement, concrete, or resin base creating endless texture and color options. Large shards can create a modern, contemporary look or the glass can be finely ground to resemble a traditional solid surface. Recycled glass countertops are durable, easy to clean, non-porous, and heat- and stain-resistant, but cracks, chips, and breaks can be a problem since they can’t be repaired, only replaced. For durability, choose glass that’s tempered and at least 1 inch thick. Stainless steel Most stainless steel products are already made from 60% recycled stainless steel and because it can be recycled again and again, this selection has a long life (possibly before and after being your countertop.) The top reasons this is the number one material in commercial kitchens is its durability and cleanliness but it is difficult to keep free of smudges and watermarks. When considering the best eco-friendly countertop for your kitchen be sure to research each company’s sustainability policy. Find out how the product is sourced, what makes the material a better choice, and if it’s green certified. Look for certifications from groups like LEED, the Forest Stewardship Council, and GREENGUARD. Know that whichever eco-friendly countertop material you choose, you are making every day Earth Day in your home.
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2016 Kitchen Trends: Integrated living, soft colors, LED lighting, and metallic finishes

  No longer used only for cooking and casual dining, nearly two-thirds of Americans spend more than three hours each day in their kitchens entertaining, eating, reading, watching TV, working, doing homework, or simply hanging out with their friends and family. With all of these activities taking place in the kitchen, more features are being added to accommodate them, including island seating, built-in banquettes, desks, workspaces, and built-in stations for coffee and tea. Kitchens are also boasting the latest in tech and appliances, such as state-of-the art coffee machines, wine coolers, steam ovens, and televisions. While kitchens have always been a place to find gadgets, it has now also become a place to use your personal electronics. Phones, laptops, and other mobile devices need charging, so kitchens are integrating designated smart spaces where hidden charging stations can be installed. For many years a single shade of white was the standard in kitchen colors. While white is still a dominant color, different shades of white are now being used, as well as pale blue, pale green-gray, beige, and soft charcoal. These muted, neutral color palettes are being chose as primary colors as well as accent colors. Following the lighter paint colors of walls is a movement toward lighter wood tones, whitewashed woods, and wood painted to show the grain in flooring and cabinets. An increase in raw, natural-looking materials such as rough-sawn, knotted timber and woodgrains washed in light tones show that kitchen design is trending toward a beachy, refined-rustic style. Cabinetry needs to do more than simply store. It need to have customized storage and lighting. Popular built-in features such as pull-out waste and recycling drawers, cookie sheet, cutting board, and spice organizers provide specific storage solutions while concealed LED strip lighting is being placed below cabinets, above cabinets, inside cabinets, and below countertop overhangs to illuminate every inch of kitchen space. Metallic finishes, such as copper, brass or bronze are taking on a more dominant role. While metallic finished faucets, pendant lights, and cabinet pulls have recently been incorporated into kitchen design, look for more metal wall panels and range hoods. Granite countertops and stainless steel appliances still top the list of kitchen “must-haves” for most homeowners. After that, everyone has their own idea of a dream kitchen. If you are interested in incorporating a few of these trends into your kitchen, or are looking to do a full remodel, give Green Remodeling a call at 678-445-5533 or stop by our showroom. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff can assist you in making your kitchen remodeling dreams a reality.
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Kitchen Remodeling Done Right

There is a distinct difference between kitchen renovating and kitchen remodeling or reconfiguring.  A general renovation can be as simple as just changing the kitchen’s finishes, upgrading what’s already there. A kitchen renovation is little more than a facelift. It can involve a change of the kitchen’s finishes, colors and style. This may include painting walls, switching out fixtures, refinishing cabinets and changing countertops from Formica to granite. If a homeowner is really feeling creative, they may want to renovate by adding a glass or ceramic backsplash. What renovating cannot include is a reconfiguration of the space or a change to its layout… That’s a full-on remodel!  A remodeling project involves changing the floor plan of a room and reconfiguring the layout and sometimes, this more in-depth transformative process is very necessary. Some kitchens need reconfiguring so they can better fit the space they occupy. Other kitchens may need reconfiguring to make them more efficient. Generally speaking, kitchen remodeling lets homeowners reconfigure their floor plan to better suit their needs. For example, a kitchen in which the dishwasher is far from its sink certainly isn’t as efficient as it could be and a kitchen with a big refrigerator in the middle of a walkway can certainly be a pain. Nowadays, most kitchen remodelers aim to give their kitchen a more open feel. Some designers call this “open concept.” This may mean giving the kitchen more sight lines to the rest of the house or rearranging appliances to free up usable space. Kitchen islands are more popular than ever and portable islands such as rolling carters and casual butcher blocks are on the rise as well. We love showing homeowners who never thought their kitchen could have an island how we can make it work. If you can picture it in your kitchen, we can make it happen. A large majority of kitchen remodeling projects begin with demolition. Because retrofitting a kitchen is much more difficult than building a new one, sometimes it cost less to start from new rather than trying to get modern cabinetry and appliances to fit the blueprint of an older home. Even in new homes, though, kitchen remodeling projects can be tricky. There are many plumbing points and electrical wiring to consider before you can install sinks, lighting and appliances. This is why you should never approach a kitchen remodel as a “weekend project” nor should you hire an amateur remodeling company to handle transforming the heart of your home. At Green Remodeling, we can redo your kitchen right, giving it an upgrade that’ll bring out its efficiency and lend it a classic look, sure to stay stylish for years.
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Kitchen Remodeling Ideas

Probably the most renovated room in residential redos, the kitchen is the heart of the home. Every year, there are new culinary and architectural innovations to upgrade the kitchen with. Since the average family spends a significant amount of time at home in the kitchen cooking, eating, cleaning, and socializing it makes sense to want to improve the look and feel of the room, not to mention the functionality. Your design needs to accommodate all these activities, which is why remodels are so popular. Because so much time is spent in the kitchen, you want the atmosphere to be inviting and relaxing. Some popular kitchen updates include custom cabinets, granite countertops, tile backsplashes and hardwood or ceramic tile flooring. Removing walls to open up the space, adding recessed and under cabinet lighting and updating appliances are also common kitchen improvements. Marble is quickly becoming just as popular as granite in kitchen remodels and careful cabinetry disguises are definitely dethroning stainless steel as the ideal appliance finishes. Farmhouse sinks and large drawers are trendy features for the lower half of your cabinetry while open shelving elements are gaining popularity up top.  Some unique kitchen renovation decisions that we’re happy to make happened include built-in wine coolers, warming drawers, in door stone walls, stylish range hoods and organized pot storage. Open floor plans have become more than a sought after design feature. They’ve become part of our lifestyle. They allow us to be with our families while we do dishes, cook meals or unload groceries. They connect the kitchen with the rest of the home (the living and dining rooms in particular) so it’s easier to get things done. While there are certainly more options available when designing your kitchen, these are just a few that may interest you. If you are ready for your dream kitchen, contact us today! If you need some help in deciding how you may want your kitchen to look, visit our photo gallery for ideas and contact us to set up a free estimate and design consultation. Whether you want to do a lot or a little, Green Basements & Remodeling can help by expert solutions by one of our design degreed associates. If you have your own designer, we can work with them too. We pride ourselves in our ability to take your ideas for your dream kitchen, and transform them into a reality.  
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LED Lighting is the new GREEN Light

What are LED lights, why are they so expensive, and why is everyone is using them? LED stands for Light Emitting Diode.  They have become popular because they are the most energy efficient way to produce light.  LED lights use about 90 percent less power than conventional light bulbs (halogen, incandescent, fluorescent, etc).  They are more durable and have a long service life.  Believe it or not, but they can last up to 25 years or more!!!  This is about 40,000-50,000 hours. Have you ever noticed how much harder it is to keep a room full of canned lights cool?  LED lights can solve this problem, because they do not emit heat the way conventional lights do.  This allows you to stay more comfortable while saving on your utility bills. For safety and environmental concerns, they don’t contain any mercury or toxins, don’t generate radio frequency so as not to interfere with radios or TVs and are resistant to vibration and shocks.  They are cool to the touch so as not to burn you.  Again because they do not generate heat, they are safer to be placed near drier bushes and plants.  Their waterproof quality allows them to be safe to be used near water hoses and sprinklers. The trendiest place to use LED lighting right now is with cabinetry.  Because they do not generate as much heat as conventional lights, they can be used in places that were not possible before.  They are commonly used for task lighting, under cabinet lights, inside cabinets and drawers, and under the toe kick. Another place where LED lighting is making headway is in outdoor spaces.  There are the obvious energy savings, but beyond that, they are a great choice because they do not emit any ultra violet light and therefore do not attract bugs!  They can withstand harsh weather conditions and are available in a variety of configurations.  They are commonly used in vibrant colors for holiday decorations. They are also commonly used for night lights, stair and walkway lighting, pendants and replace lamp bulbs. So what’s the catch?  They are expensive.  It goes back to the adage, “You get what you pay for.”  It is estimated that between replacement costs of bulbs and energy savings, LED lighting will pay for themselves within about 3.5 years. If you would like more information, there is a free app about LED lighting call “Learn LED” from Phillips. If there are any home improvement topics you would like me to cover, please feel free to email them in to me at lgreen@greenremodeling.com
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What are “Green” Products and How do they Help Me and My Home?

If you asked 10 people what it means for a product to be “green”, you would probably get 10 different answers.  The truth is, there are many different attributes that allow a product to be called “green.”   This can range anywhere from being made of recyclable material to the cleaner or more efficient manner in which they are manufactured.  Basically, “green” products can loosely be defined as products that lower their negative impact on the earth. The most recognized classification for green products is whether they are made from recycled materials or are themselves recyclable.  Manufacturers are finding many inventive ways to use recyclable material to create interesting things.  Take for example glass countertops.  There are companies that take particular bottles for their coloring (Heineken for green, Skyy Vodka for blue, wine bottles for red) and use them to create beautiful unique countertops.  These countertops are quite a fitting choice for a basement bar or wet bar area. In many cases you can also remodel your home using items salvaged from existing or demolished buildings such as bathtubs, sinks, and cabinetry. Doing this lowers the demand for having these items manufactured and in turn lowers the strain on the environment from the factories making these items. Sustainability is a big part of classifying a product as “green”. Sustainability in the remodeling world has multiple definitions.  It can refer to the replenishment of the resource from which the product is made.   This is called “sustainable harvesting”. Many hardwood floor manufacturers have programs to plant a tree for every tree they cut down. Bamboo has become a popular green flooring choice for this reason. Bamboo grows at an incredible rate, reaching maturity in 3-5 years, as opposed to trees which require more than double that time. It is more durable than traditional oak hardwoods and is also a bit more resistant to water. Another popular “green” flooring choice is cork.  It is considered sustainable because one tree can be harvested multiple times. It is a natural insulator, dampens sound, and is hypoallergenic.  Because of its softness, it is great for those who have children or back/knee problems. Sustainability can also mean being extremely durable with low maintenance requirements.  This longevity keeps it from needing to be replaced in the near future.  Examples of this would be HardiePlank Siding and LVT flooring.  HardiePlank siding will not rot or warp like it’s real wood look-alike and is made to last for many years.  LVT flooring is virtually indestructible, can be cleaned with anything, is water resistant, and does not require any maintenance such as refinishing.  Another example would be using LED light bulbs.  They can last for 20+ years before having to be replaced.  They also use very little energy to create the same output as traditional light bulbs which is another aspect of being a green product. Reducing energy consumption is another attribute of a “green” product.  Not only does this lower the impact on the earth, but it also lowers utility bills.  There are many products which are aimed at reducing energy costs such as Eco Wraps (an insulating wrap placed around your house before the finish is applied), Low-E Windows, Energy Star Appliances, etc. A product can also be considered “green” if it does not produce or contain any contaminants.  As of the late 70’s paints with lead have been banned; however, many paints and stains used today still contain harmful substances called VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). VOCs are toxins that are released into the air as the paint cures. They can cause symptoms ranging from asthma attacks and complications, decreases in enzymes in the blood which help the nervous system function properly, and cancer.  The good news is that paint manufacturers have begun to make products with low or no VOCs. They are water-based, which makes for easy cleanup since it is not considered hazardous waste, has little to no odor when applied, and has no ozone depleting contaminants. As you can see, there are many great products that can be used in your home that can be considered “green”.  Many do not cost you any more than you would pay for a non-green product and can in fact save you money in the long run. Just being aware of the product’s qualities can help you make a more informed “green” decision.