Your ultimate guide to a modern and sustainable kitchen renovation

In 2021, energy efficiency is an important social issue that has long-term benefits for the community and your bank account. If you have previously taken the plunge and incorporated solar energy into your home, you would have seen just how much of a difference this makes on your quarterly bills. If you’re wanting to make your home as self-sufficient and responsible as possible there are some very straightforward choices you can make, when planning your upcoming kitchen renovation to ensure you’re being as sustainable as possible.

If you are ready to upgrade your old kitchen but also want to go green and create the most energy efficient kitchen possible—here is the ultimate guide to creating an eco-friendly space that will benefit your family and the planet for many years to come.

Careful configuration.

One of the most sustainable decisions you can make when planning your kitchen renovation is to ensure you are making a conscious decision to design your kitchen in a space saving manner. Using your space effectively allows you to keep your kitchen renovation at a reasonable size and in turn means you won’t excessively be using extra materials unnecessarily. This does not mean you have to compromise on your extra-storage or bench space, it simply means that by designing your kitchen in a more mindful manner you will avoid having voids in the design that need to be filled. Include options such as custom corner units to maximise every nook and cranny. You can incorporate built-in containers to separate compost, recycling and waste too!

Cost-effective green flooring.

Cork: being a naturally renewable material, cork is manufactured from the bark of the cork oak tree. Cork is a great insulator and is naturally repellent to bugs mould and mites. Some cork flooring is even made from 100% recycled materials such as bottle stoppers.

Linoleum: is manufactured from oxidized linseed oil which is produced naturally from flax plants. This flooring option is widely available and extremely economical; the biggest plus is that linoleum doesn’t have a significant negative impact on the environment in comparison to other flooring options either. Linoleum is extremely hearty and will last for 25-40+ years. Once you eventually tear up your linoleum flooring, this can be burned as fuel which means its life cycle is a closed loop system.

Bamboo: given bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants with a harvest cycle of just 3-5 years, bamboo flooring is considered highly renewable. Bamboo is easy-to-clean, pet friendly and extremely long-lasting.

Hardwood flooring: is a natural product that is constantly being renewed and is also biodegradable. Like cork, hardwood flooring can be used as fuel at the end of its life or recycled and used in other flooring projects due to its effective durability.

Natural stone: tectonic processes constantly replenish the stone supply on our planet. This means it is a naturally occurring material that does not harm the environment and can be recycled and used for other flooring projects at the end of its life.

Environmentally friendly paint.

There are ‘natural’ paint options that are widely available which use plant-derived solvents and binders instead of nasty synthetic ones. These paints have lower VOC levels and are created using renewable resources that won’t impact your health or increase the toxicity level in your home.

Energy and water-saving appliances.

Sustainability and energy efficiency are a huge focus for most of the major appliance brands in 2021. This means they are constantly developing new technology and incorporating this in the most notorious energy eating appliances, such as refrigerators and dishwashers. Upgrade with the most energy saving and water efficient appliance available and you can reduce your consumption by approximately 37%. This means massive savings for you and a better outcome for the environment.

Energy efficient lighting.

When planning your lighting strategy in your upcoming kitchen renovation, try to incorporate LED bulbs as they are super-efficient and far more affordable today than they once were. They have an expected lifespan of 10,000 hours over conventional incandescent bulbs so they are a great investment for your home.