Eco-kitchen: earth-friendly tips for your home

Better Nutrition, March, 2004 by Lori Tobias

Floors made from bamboo also come highly recommended because the bamboo plant grows so quickly, making it a highly sustainable crop. Clay-based saltillo tiles, ceramic tiles and stone--all of which are durable and do not outgas--are also good options.

Chichi Countertops

Finding the right material for countertops can be a bit trickier, particularly in the area close to the sink. Laminates, such as Formica, which DeBoer describes as "the vinyl of the countertop," are bad news for all the same reasons as the material on the floor. Any material that's woodbased, such as bamboo, will likely be susceptible to water damage. Both concrete and stainless steel are impervious to water and long-lasting, but they are energy-intensive to make. Stones, such as granite and marble, are also durable, but again the quarrying of the materials uses a great deal of energy.

This is one surface, says DeBoer, where recycled plastics can be a good idea. Origins, a product by the Missouri firm of Yemm & Hart is made entirely from recycled milk and detergent bottles, is nontoxic and, says, DeBoer, "It's better than sending the plastic to the landfill."

Nouveaux Riche

While it is commonly held that the more use one can get from a material, the better for the planet, when it comes to appliances and windows, new is almost always better.

Pickert replaced all of her single-pane glass with double-pane, but then took it one step further, reconfiguring her windows to take advantage of the natural light. "I had two on the north and one on the east. I switched them so I could bring in more sunlight. It makes a dramatic difference."

Not only does more starlight mean less artificial light and thus energy savings, but, says Black, "Natural light is good for our health. Our pineal gland is the light meter for the body; it uses light to energize us. If you have a lot of natural light coming in through the house, you're going to naturally feel better."

Pickert also splurged on a new refrigerator and dishwasher, knowing the energy savings would be well worth the cost.

"Refrigerator manufacturers have made huge strides in energy efficiency," says DeBoer. "Anything you buy new would be better than what you have. You can look at the yellow tags on the appliance in the sales room and compare how much energy each refrigerator will use. The fine print on the bottom gives you a dollar amount that yon can compare apples to apples with."

DeBoer also believes it's worth it to buy a new stove lather use an older model. But, while DeBoer believes gas models are generally more energy-efficient, Black is concerned about the effect of gas on her indoor air quality and prefers an electric stove. "I don't feel well when I have a gas range in my home. I'm a gourmet chef, and it's a greater way to cook, but I'm not comfortable with what it does to my air quality."

As for dishwashers, not only is it smart to buy a new one, DeBoer also recommends spending the extra money for the higher-quality models, which are quieter, use less energy and generally last longer.