The kitchen is the heart and hearth of the home, and when it comes time to remodel, people want to make sure they get it right. It’s not just a matter of choosing granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. It’s about having a usable room with a workable flow. It’s deciding whether the kitchen is a room to be used solely for cooking or whether it will also serve as a dining room and family room.
And for many people, a kitchen remodel serves as a unique chance to up the “green” quotient on their homes.
Via Trends Ideas, this kitchen remodel, led by architects David Webber, AIA and Tim Derrington, AIA of Webber + Studio, had the dual goal of being truly green and truly beautiful.
Integrity’s windows, with Low E II glass were installed to help cut energy bills. These windows’ materials (wood and super-tough Ultrex) give a classic look with extremely high performance. And since Low E II helps with energy efficiency, the home’s owners didn’t have to skimp on their dream of having lots of windows to let in natural light.
Architect Webber says:
I think that living sustainably means appreciating the surrounding environment and interacting with nature as a part of daily life. So being able to enjoy plenty of sunlight and open up the windows and turn off the air conditioning is a huge part of that sensibility.
To complete this green kitchen, the design team looked for energy efficient appliances, chose cupboards made of fiberboard (not hardwood) and installed a heating system for hot water when needed, without the need to have it heating all the time.
