Green and Gorgeous Kitchen Countertops

From Margaret on June 30th, 2010 in Kitchen Remodel

Greener appliances and materials in your home do more for you than simply lightening your footprint on the earth. They make your home more valuable upon resale—and create a healthier living environment, especially in places like the kitchen. Having to choose between being socially conscious and stylish is a thing of the past—your kitchen countertops, for instance, can be better for you and the earth, and look and function great.

Here are some examples:

#1 – Made of 75 percent recycled glass and 18 percent white Portland cement, IceStone compares with granite in strength and heat resistance, and is less porous than marble. Having won the Innovative Green Design Award, this surface is here to stay, and sure to please.

#2 – EnviroGLAS Terrazzo is made completely with post-consumer recycled glass and topped with an epoxy resin. While epoxy doesn’t epitomize eco-friendliness, the manufacturers ensure that their resin emits no harmful VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).

At $85 to $125 per square foot for installation (poured on site), the counters are said to last about 40 years.

#3 – For green and clean aesthetic, consider the eco-friendly countertop called ECO by Cosentino, the world’s largest quartz manufacturer. Heavily researched over three years, ECO is composed of 25 percent natural elements and 75 percent post-consumer recycled raw materials, such as mirrors and glass and porcelain.

Sealed with a bond containing 22 percent corn oil resin, the product is durable against stains, scratches, and scorches. Certified for low-chemical emissions and helpful towards LEED certification, this innovative material can even be found at your local Lowe’s.

Photo Credit: IceStone, EcoHomeResource, JetsonGreen