Do you remember 20 years ago when all of our building products were going to be “eco friendly”? The term “green” became less a color and more a movement! It seems the green path is still not chosen consistently when building or remodeling . The November issue of Professional Builder magazine points out that energy efficient windows, appliances and HVAC systems are standard in most new houses. Enhanced methods of insulation and air-sealing are also common construction methods these days. What builders are still battling is cost and competition. Buyers do not want to pay a premium for things like solar panels, tankless water heaters or watersense plumbing fixtures, so the movement while still alive is moving slowly.
In the kitchen and bath business, we had a supplier who offered bamboo as a choice of wood. Unfortunately, it carried a 30% premium and has been dropped from the line due to lack of sales. Recycled products like glass and paper have found their way into countertops but most will price out above the popular granite and quartz. There are plumbing products (faucets, shower heads , toilets) specifically engineered to save water but most of our customers prefer the time tested products and with Lake Michigan as a water source why worry about it.
So are we doing anything better? Most of the appliances we install are energy star rated and use far less resources than the products they are replacing. Cabinets Plus is moving to LED light products where possible in an effort to save electricity. More and more of our clients are choosing to donate their old kitchens to organizations like Habitat for Humanity. That’s less material going into a landfill. I’m happy to say that all three of our cabinet lines can display the Environmental Stewardship Program logo in the press related to their businesses. That means they build their cabinetry to guidelines set by the KCMA (Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association) and try to be a friend to our environment.
So if you want to be “green” while building or remodeling be prepared to spend a bit more. If you want to see some green kitchens search “Green Kitchens” in houzz.com and you’ll find 1,144,015 pictures. If you’d like to see a very pretty display of pistachio green painted maple cabinets, stop by the Cabinets Plus showroom.
Pistachio Kitchen Display
The post It’s Not Easy Being Green appeared first on Cabinets Plus.
