Once upon a time, the term green kitchen or sustainable bath would have seemed impossible, perhaps even laughable. With limited product offerings, designers and builders could have been as environmentally conscious as they wanted, but in the end they’d be left with little more than a standard bath or kitchen.
But times have changed. Today, the idea of a “green” bath or kitchen may still seem dubious to some builders, but it really shouldn’t be. Just like any other part of the house, these spaces can be designed using eco-conscious principles—and products.
But what, exactly, constitutes a green or eco-friendly bathroom or kitchen? Simply put, it includes rooms that use less water, ones that save energy, and spaces thoughtfully constructed with resource-efficient materials. Thankfully, building professionals who are inclined to design spaces with these characteristics can now do so because manufacturers have been working hard to make it possible.
One such example is water-conserving products. “From a manufacturer’s stand point, water-conserving fixtures have become standard particu-larly WaterSense-certified HETs [high-efficiency toilets] and low-flow faucets,” says Gerber Plumbing Fixtures in Woodridge, Ill. “The key is ensuring you have a quality product to make certain the product performs and saves water.”
The operative concept here is performance. Eco-conscious design isn’t worth much unless products actually work more efficiently. Builders and architects also would be well advised to look for products that fit with today’s design trends and most budgets.
Stratton D. Yatron, CFO and co-owner of Adelphi Kitchens & Cabinetry in Robesonia, Pa., says the focus of buyers has changed. “There is a definite shift to simpler designs,” he says. “Green is important but value is of utmost importance.”
Here are six areas where builders can improve the sustainability of their kitchens and baths. The products are sure to add value for those buyers looking to go green.
Tip: Grass Hopper
Though it’s actually a grass and the fastest-growing plant on earth, bamboo seems like a wonder wood. It’s been used in ancient China to build houses and bridges, but in the last 15 years bamboo has been storming its way through the architecture and construction world. Green advocates like bamboo because it’s rapidly renewable, reaching harvesting age in as little as seven years. But they also love the rich caramel color and its warm, earthy tone. It doesn’t hurt that the material is also very hard, durable, and highly resistant to moisture, which makes it very popular for use as flooring. In recent years, its use has been expanded to include countertops, windows, doors, cabinets, and even sinks.
Store It: Made from sustainable Plyboo bamboo plywood, the Avalon vanity brings eco consciousness to bathroom storage. The Asian-inspired product measures 48 inches wide, 20 inches from front to back, and 20 inches high. Offered in 24 domestic and exotic finishes, the product features soft-close drawers and a full overlay design. Vanity Flair by The Furniture Guild. 770-479-4108. www.thefurnitureguild.com.
In Sink: A bamboo sink seems like a bold, if incongruous, choice, but the manufacturer contends that the product can more than hold its own in even the most hard-working kitchen. Durable and strong, the sink is crafted from fully matured Moso bamboo and has an apron front design, and double bowls with a low-rise divider. It measures 32 3/4 inches wide, 21 inches from front to back, and 9 inches deep. Lenova. 877-733-1098. www.lenovasinks.com.
Tip: Stove Tops
When people think green in the kitchen, water-saving dishwashers and energy-efficient refrigerators come to mind. These appliances have been Energy Star rated for years, so most (if not all) builders are (or should be) up to speed on the latest. But the stove is a kitchen appliance whose energy-effi ciency story is less well known, and manufacturers are hoping to change that. “Induction cooking off ers cooks the best of both worlds by combining heating speed, responsiveness, and control with greater energy effi-ciency,” says Deb O’Connor, senior manager for KitchenAid and Jenn-Air. “With induction, 90 percent of the heat generated goes directly into the cooking vessel, whereas electric is about 75 percent efficient and gas is around 40 percent.” O’Connor says induction is likely to increase in popularity, and may become as ubiquitous as microwaves.
Fire Starter: Offering flexibility and convenience, this 36-inch hybrid induction cooktop automatically detects the presence of magnetic cookware, activates the induction field, and adjusts to the exact size of the pan. It’s 70 percent more energy efficient than gas, 20 percent more efficient than electric, and more responsive than both. Unlike most induction cooktops, the unit includes a combination of electric elements that are compatible with all cookware. Electrolux USA. 877-435-3287. www.electroluxusa.com.
Magnetic Fields: This normal looking 30-inch freestanding Profile range comes with an induction cooktop that saves time and energy by cooking faster than gas or electric. Using magnetic fields, the technology heats the pot while the areas surrounding the burners stay relatively cool. It comes in stainless steel and features touch controls and a 5.3-cubic-foot oven. GE Consumer & Industrial. 800-626-2005. www.ge.com.
Cooking Light: The manufacturer’s induction cooktop allows heat to be adjusted instantly and precisely. It uses magnetic energy that transfers heat directly to the cookware, which results in faster and more energy-efficient cooking. As a result, the element stays relatively cool to the touch even as the pot gets hot. Available in 30- and 36-inch models, it has touch-activated controls and 17 heat settings. Jenn-Air. 800-536-6247. www.jennair.com.
Tip: Eco Surface
Floors are not always thought of as green or sustainable, but that is an oversight. Many flooring options fall squarely into the eco-conscious category either for the way they’re made or where they come from. For example, you can buy wood flooring made from Forest Stewardship–certified hardwood or products made from rapidly renewable materials such as bamboo,cork, or Lyptus hardwood. Builders can also install ceramic flooring made with recycled content and ecocomposites made from cement and recycled glass or cement and recycled wood fiber, salvaged wood, or salvaged stone tiles pulled from old churches.
Floor Model: Eco-Cem is a multipurpose composite that is available as large tiles for flooring (or as slabs for countertops). It’s made from a mixture of 80 percent cement and 20 percent recycled paper. Available in a range of eight colors, it’s lighter and stronger than natural stone, and resistant to mold and mildew. Tiles measure 1/2-inch-thick and 48 inches by 48 inches or 24 inches by 48 inches. Coverings Etc. 305-757-6000. www.coveringsetc.com.
Rescue Me: Instead of cutting down trees to make wood flooring, the manufacturer deconstructs old structures to reclaim their precious lumber. One of the maker’s newest offerings is Rescued Maple strip flooring. Removed from old factories and warehouses, the line comes in 2- to 2 1/2-inch-wide boards that have been milled to retain some of their rustic character and pre-finished for durability. Aged Woods. 800-233-9307. www.agedwoods.com.
Tip: Water(less) World
With the average American using about 100 gallons of water per day, water, conservationists say, could become the new oil. In other words, water shortages have the potential to be a serious problem. But manufacturers are on the case, and new washing machines and dishwashers are using less water than ever. Faucets and showerheads with a flow rate as low as 1.5 gallons are reducing consumption by 30 percent. Moreover,new highefficiency toilets (HETs) using 1.28 gallons or less are becoming more prevalent. “HETs and the water efficiency they achieve are critical in the future,” American Standard says, adding that the units “will become commonplace as the green movement to conserve water and energy grows.”
Water Miser: The Avalanche toilet uses 1.28 gallons of water versus the standard 1.6 gallons. It features the manufacturer’s XP3 flushing system that clears the bowl fast and efficiently, a 3-inch flush valve, and a uniquely designed jet feed that helps the unit perform. The toilet is available with a round or elongated bowl and in white or biscuit. Gerber Plumbing Fixtures. 630-754-0278. www.gerberonline.com.
Dual Action: The push-button Conserver toilet allows users to choose between 1.0 or 1.6 gallons of water per flush, which averages out to a 20 percent water savings. WaterSense certified, the high-efficiency unit is constructed from vitreous china and has a 2-inch glazed trapway for efficient waste removal and quieter flush. It comes in a round or elongated bowl. Briggs Industries. 800-888-4458. www.theconserver.com.
Tip: Eco Tile
Tile is a perennial favorite with home buyers, which explains why so many builders include it in their homes. Today, design professionals and homeowners can choose more tiles that are environmentally sensitive. Post-industrial and post-consumer ceramic tiles are being recycled back into new tiles, while other ceramic tiles incorporate old windshields. Glass tiles are often made from post-consumer content such as wine bottles or post-industrial material such as stop lights. “[W]e like to say that ‘green’ can be any color you want,” says Carl Griffencranz, vice president of marketing for Granite Transformations. “By using recycled glass to make these mosaic tiles we save energy and resources while producing beautiful mosaic tiles in a wide range of colors.”
Mosaic Madness: White Shadow is one of three new recycled glass mosaic tile collections the manufacturer recently introduced. Made from recycled bottles and glass containers, the 3/4-inch-by-3/4-inch mosaic pieces are assembled to form pre-grouted, 4-foot-by-10-foot sheets. The tiles have a translucent luster and come in 15 colors. Granite Transformations. 954-435-5538. www.granitetransformations.com.
Recycling Center: Ashland-e mosaic tiles are made with up to 70 percent recycled glass from beer and wine bottles headed for the landfill. Suitable for walls, countertops, and backsplashes, the tiles are available in 1-inch-by-1-inch squares and 1-inch-by-2-inch subway-style mosaics in a variety of colors, including silver, crystal, and light olive. Hakatai Enterprises. 541-552-0855. www.hakatai.com.
Tip: Counter Intelligence
Granite is a beautiful and durable material , but its overuse during the housing boom made it passé. Architects and builders looking for an eco-conscious countertop that is very “now” turn to cutting-edge offerings such as recycled paper, recycled aluminum, bamboo, or salvaged lumber such as teak or mahogany. Cement-based surfacing containing high concentrations of recycled glass, paper, or porcelain are also becoming more popular. Even quartz manufacturers are getting into the sustainable mode. One quartz manufacturer, CaesarStone, uses recycled glass, mirrors, and post-industrial quartz in some products. Finding a use for waste materials that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill is one way to show your eco-cred.
X Factor: Made with nearly 70 percent post-consumer and post-industrial recycled materials, ecoX is a cement-based composite surfacing that can be used in the kitchen or bath for a variety of applications such as countertops, tiles, and tub surrounds. It can be cut, sanded, and polished in the same manner as natural stone and engineered quartz and comes in standard colors or can be ordered in custom hues. Meld USA. 919-790-1749. www.meldusa.com.
Urban Outfitter: Urbanslabs countertop surfacing is made from a lightweight cement matrix and 60 percent post-consumer beer, wine, and liquor bottles. Weighing only 7.75 pounds per square foot, tops can be ordered in 8-foot-by-3-foot slabs measuring 3/4 or 1 1/4 inches thick. They can be cut, bull-nosed, seamed, and polished just like natural stone and come in 13 colors. Urbanslabs. 714-954-0161. www.urbanslabs.com.