What Materials Are Good for Green Kitchen Cabinets?
Kitchen cabinetry has become an art form. We all want to remodel our kitchens and turn our antiquated cabinetry into a model of style and efficiency. In today’s world we are also learning that is just as important to have a home that is environmentally friendly as it is to have one that looks good, so green kitchen cabinets are becoming more and more popular.
But
what does "green" mean in this context?
When you hear the term “green building” it is referring to design and construction practices that use natural resources wisely in order to prevent damage to our environment.
What is the difference between a conventional kitchen cabinet and one that is “green”? They all look the same but if you have done your homework you will know that there is a difference. Green products do not pollute your home with unhealthy chemicals and they are made using materials that take the environment into account. Some day eco-friendly cabinets will be the norm, but as of now we need to look a little harder to find products that are truly green.
Any style of cabinetry can be eco-friendly. You will find, however, that modern design trends work particularly well because they keep other green concepts in mind. One green-building strategy is to use modules instead of built-in designs because if you want to sell or remodel at a later date, the modules are easier to dismantle than something that is built in. Modules also give you the freedom to select pieces that you want that are made of solid or reclaimed wood. (Reclaimed refers to material that has been recycled. "Re-use" is another key green strategy because it will reduce the need to mine, harvest and process more materials.)
Green kitchen cabinets may cost more because not all manufacturers are using FSC certified hardwood or formaldehyde-free substrates. Certified Wood has been certified by an independent third-party to indicate that it has been grown and harvested using environmentally responsible practices. FSC indicates that wood has met environmental forest management standards.
What makes a kitchen healthy? Most cabinets are not very health-friendly. Most of them are made from ply-wood or pressboard covered with a veneer or a laminate. Plywood and pressboard are glued together, most often with glue that contains formaldehyde, which gives off noxious fumes. Cabinets are a major source of pollution in your home.
Thinking green doesn’t have to mean buying all new eco-friendly stuff for your kitchen. One green strategy is to use what you have, so if the over-all design of your kitchen is good, consider revamping existing cabinets. Refinishing your cabinets or replacing doors saves natural resources if you can rework the kitchen layout to your satisfaction.
If you just can’t live with your current kitchen layout and feel that a complete make-over is the only option, there are plenty of green options. One is to look at buying used cabinets from a building materials salvage yard.
In case you're wondering, solid wood can be used in a green kitchen. For ages, Wood has been the material of choice for cabinets, and it continues to be popular. Wood looks good, it's renewable, it's often recyclable, and it's biodegradable. However, you need to be careful when purchasing wood kitchen cabinets.
Often wood used in cabinet-making comes from an environmentally unsustainable and sometimes illegal source. It will be up you to use to ask for products that do not contain unhealthy substances such as urea formaldehyde and vinyl. Be prepared to insist that your wood is FSC certified or that reclaimed woods are being used.
If you're not married to the idea of a wooden kitchen, metal cabinets are a clean, non-toxic solution. Also, investigate recycled glass, end-grain bamboo, recycled paper, sustainable wood, and recycled aluminum before making your decisions. All of these materials are green can be made into cabinets.
Bamboo for example, is a fast-growing grass with a hollow stem. It is considered to be a more eco-friendly material than wood because it can be harvested every 3-5 years.
Wheatboard (strawboard) is another option and refers to a panel made primarily from compressed straw. Typically strawboard is made without formaldehyde binders.
As you can see, there are quite a few green kitchen cabinet options. Enjoy the selection and good luck with your remodeling project!
More reading:
Good Green Kitchens
by Jennifer Roberts.
Home Improvement Ideas Blog | Remodeling Articles