Green Building

Good design includes planning spaces that are environmentally friendly and healthy for the user. Often these considerations require that your designer or re-modeler has an in-depth knowledge concerning water and air quality, waste management, energy-efficient products and more.

Green building encompasses energy efficiency, water quality and conservation, air quality, and waste management and recycling. Green building includes specific practices, products and techniques  It is also a philosophical approach that guides design and business decisions

In recent years, the term "green building" has come to represent policies and practices that are environmentally responsible. There is not a precise definition of green building, although the U.S Green Building Council is taking leadership in describing and promoting green building practices. Green building practices are recognized to:

• promote healthy places to live and work
• enhance and protect natural ecosystems and biodiversity
• improve air and water quality
• reduce solid waste
• conserve natural resources

In a kitchen there are many opportunities to implement green building or healthy housing policies and practices. Some general suggestions include:

• Specify environmentally healthy building and interior finish materials, including non-toxic, sustainability harvested, recycled or renewable resource products.
• Specify materials and products from local sources that do not have an energy or pollution "cost" or transportation.
• Specify products that are energy efficient, such as Energy Star qualified appliances or windows.
• Specify plumbing fixtures and appliances that conserve water.
• Maximize the use of daylight and specify energy-efficient light sources.
• Plan window placement to maximize passive solar gain through south facing windows, minimize hear loss through north windows and limit heat gain through west windows. 
• Plan the layout of the kitchen to maximize the use of standard size materials and products, and minimizing the amount of construction waste.
• Investigate and implement opportunities to recycle construction and demolition waste. Donate serviceable cabinetry, appliances and fixtures removed in renovations to charitable organizations.