Talking About Green

Throughout your tenure in a home you are likely to make several upgrades that will both improve your property for eventual sale and make it more beautiful and livable while you are in residence.  While some of these changes may be purely cosmetic, others will be geared towards making the space more functional.  But aside from these two pursuits, you should also consider the added value they will bring to your home – and the return on investment they’ll show down the line.  In this last regard, kitchen upgrades seem to guarantee the most bang for your buck.  But if you’re hesitant to move forward with renovations because of their negative environmental impact, here are just a few green upgrades to help you get the ball rolling.

1. Lighting.  This can be one of the easiest areas in which to go green with your upgrades since all you really have to do is install an attractive new fixture and outfit it with energy-saving CFLs instead of standard incandescent bulbs.  But you can take it a lot further if you like by putting in a window or skylight to bring a lot more natural light into your space.  And if your kitchen feels claustrophobic, consider knocking out a wall to give your house a desirable open floor plan and let the sunshine in.
2. Appliances.  Energy-star is the only way to go if you want to do your part for the environment and save a little money on your utility bill at the same time.  Fridges, ovens, dishwashers, and even microwaves come with energy-star credentials these days, and if you want extras like a trash compactor or wine fridge, those can be had, as well.  Of course, if you really want to save, you might think outside the box with an induction cooktop, which produces heat through magnetic current (causing the pot to heat up rather than the surface of the stove).
3. Countertop.  Trends these days dictate that high-end homes have granite or marble countertops.  But if you’re not too keen on mining operations that gouge chunks out of the Earth, upsetting ecosystems and spewing waste and pollution into the surrounding area (not to mention the hydrocarbons released during shipping), perhaps you should seek an alternative to natural stone.  In this respect, faux stone tiles can provide what you seek.  They are not only a lot less expensive and harmful to the environment than their real-world counterparts, some of them also look enough like the real deal to fool just about anyone.
4. Flooring.  Again, you could go with faux-stone tile, but if you want a different look for the floor, consider laminate flooring.  With a variety of color and texture options on the market, you can find flooring that looks as good as real wood (down to the last grain).  And best of all it is waterproof and generally comes with 10+ years of warranty.  It sure beats linoleum in the looks department (and the green factor).
5. Cabinetry.  While a good contractor can get you kitchen cabinets wholesale, you’ll actually save more by going with reclaimed cabinetry or even re-facing your old cabinets, both of which are greener options than buying brand new.