Thursday, October 29, 2009

Easy Eco-Friendly Kitchen Ideas

Creating an eco-friendly kitchen is as simple as being smart about the materials you buy, and when possible, recycling, reusing, and repurposing items from all over the house.

CLEAR THE AIR: Use paint that is low in -- or free of -- volatile organic compounds. VOCs are gases, some of which can be toxic, that are emitted from products such as wall paint, paint stripper, cleaning supplies, and some building materials.

POP THE CORK: Natural flooring, such as wood, cork, or linoleum, doesn't contain the toxins found in many manufactured materials. Cork is roughly the same price as wood, but it's a sustainable material. Cork trees regenerate every nine years, while trees such as oak or maple can take 30 years or more.

GOLD STAR: Use energy-efficient appliances throughout the kitchen. Appliances with an Energy Star label have met strict energy-efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency.

WATER SAVER: To conserve water, use a water-saving faucet with a flow rate around 2.2 gallons per minute.

NEW HARDWARE: Swapping out old hardware for new gives a kitchen a fresh, new look. Instead of junking the old hardware, save it for future use elsewhere.

BREATHE EASY: Potted plants act as natural air filters by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen into the kitchen.

For more specific ideas go to...http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/kitchen/gallery/eco-friendly-kitchen-ideas/?page=1

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