Whether you’re renovating the interior or exterior of your home, remodeling requires getting rid of old materials and appliances and buying new ones. From a sustainability standpoint, any time you turn something into refuse before the end of its useful life, you’re being wasteful.
Many remodeling projects can be anything but green and planet-friendly. Thankfully, with a little planning and attention to details, you can substantially reduce the impact of remodeling your kitchen.
Keeping What You Can Reduces Impact
Sure, you hate those dark, boring cabinets in your kitchen. However, instead of tearing them all out, here’s what you can do with them:
- Refinish them
- Add new
- Modern hardware (such as pulls, handles and hinges)
- Change their layout
All of these simple updates can breathe new life into your kitchen — no need to send perfectly functional cabinets to the landfill.
Old fixtures for water or lighting in one room can be painted and used in another, gifted to friends or even donated to resale shops if in working order. Anything you keep out of a landfill reduces your impact.
—-> 4 Popular Countertops Trends: From Granite to Quartz
Look for Sustainable and Energy-Efficient New Additions
Sometimes, upgrading just makes sense — especially when it comes to old, energy-hungry appliances. New Energy Star–compliant models can significantly cut down on your utility bills and environmental impact.
When replacing appliances, try to:
- Donate working units to local charities
- Sell them to someone who needs them
- Recycle them for parts — avoid sending them straight to the landfill
Beyond appliances, choose sustainable materials whenever possible:
- Use sustainably harvested wood like cork
- Consider bamboo or reclaimed wood for a unique and eco-friendly look
- Explore eco-friendly options for flooring, countertops, and even cabinets if your existing ones can’t be salvaged
—-> How To Live Through a Home Remodel or Renovation
The Right Help Makes All the Difference
Not every contractor can help you focus on sustainability when remodeling your kitchen. Thankfully, the team at Vertical Construction has experience with environmentally friendly kitchen makeovers. Are you dreaming of an open, bright kitchen that looks like it was pulled from a classic farmhouse? Reclaimed materials, fresh paint and creative sourcing for features can make that dream an eco-friendly reality.
Maybe you’re hoping for something a little more modern, with a colorful tile backsplash, chrome appliances and sleek, modern lines. Almost any aesthetic can be catered to in a properly planned sustainable remodel. Seattle remodel contractor, Vertical Construction, can help you plan and realize your dream kitchen, all while helping you reduce energy use, water consumption and waste of raw materials.
From better lighting to more organic flow to the space, we can help optimize your investment in a remodeled kitchen while minimizing your environmental impact. Contact us!
