Estate Living Digital Publication Issue 5 May 2015 | Page 53

Going Green
in the
Kitchen

Choosing green – buyers should ideally look
for so-called green companies that have an
environmental policy ensuring that their
suppliers are eco-friendly. If every company in
the supply chain of your kitchen has taken an
environmental stand, the carbon footprint of
your kitchen will be substantially reduced.
Green design – by optimising natural light in a
kitchen design, homeowners can cut back on
the amount of electrical lighting required. Look
to place key work areas like sinks and stoves
near a source of natural light and ensure any
lighting is low voltage or uses energy saving
bulbs. Including practical recycling bins that will
allow you to separate your recyclable waste
easily is also a great way to stay green in the
kitchen. Incorporating a waste disposal system
or green bin for biodegradable waste that can
be turned into compost will help reduce garden

maintenance costs and also keep your outside
area looking healthy.
Green materials – specify to your building team
that you wish your carcasses to be made of
board with a green stamp from an approved
green-specifyingagency.Thiswillbeslightlymore
expensive, but is manufactured in a ‘greener’
process and contains less formaldehyde than
other boards. MDF is the board of choice for
manufacturing doors and drawer fronts, while
melamine is normal for the manufacturing of
carcassing.
If you are looking for a paint finish or ‘duco’door,
ensure the paint used is water based and
environmentally friendly. There have been
huge strides in the manufacturing process of
PVC if opting for a wrap door and many studies
view PVC as an eco-friendly plastic with huge
sustainability due to its durability and long life
cycle.
Bamboo has multiple uses and is grown in
commercial plantations that use sustainable
forestry practices. The plants require no fertilisers
or pesticides and, unlike other hardwoods, the

49
DESIGN & DECOR

Environmental issues are becoming more of a
concern and the Kitchen Specialists Association
is frequently asked what people can do to
make their new kitchen more environmentally
friendly. We have outlined answers to some of
the most popular questions below.