Lower Utility Bills With An Enhanced Kitchen
July 5, 2012While many sections of your home use utilities, the kitchen is often the center of attention. By taking steps to improve your energy use in the kitchen, you can greatly reduce your overall household costs. This guide will show you some of the most effective means of reducing costs, and even add new features to your home.
The most important aspect of refining your kitchen is replacing old appliances with new Energy Star appliances. This immediately reduces energy and water costs, and can make your life easier with faster cooking and cleaning abilities. Another great benefit of adding energy efficient appliances is that governments typically issue tax credits. You do not have to spend a lot of money to find energy efficient appliances either, simply shop around until you find the best deals.
Remodeling your kitchen is another fast way to increase your savings. Remove old flooring and other materials, and then replace them with renewable modern construction supplies. You can dramatically improve your insulation factor, which will lower the costs of heating and cooling.
Choose F.S.C. compliant cabinets, known also as Forestry Stewardship Certified, as these cabinets come from Eco-friendly manufactures. This ensures that your new kitchen has environmentally friendly materials, and does not contain harmful toxins typically found with other models. They last just as long as traditional cabinets and prices are generally in the same range.
Take time to research and buy paints that are safe for you and your family. Many products exist that can cause problems with the environment. You can find a range of resources online to help you decide which company has the best colors for your design goals, and see which companies provide the safest paints. Simply search for "ecofriendly paint reviews," and you can quickly find some great ideas.
While upgrading your appliances, you should also consider updating your lighting fixtures, too. Replace bulbs with new energy efficient models, and try to utilize sunlight into your plans. Another easy way to cut costs of lighting is to install mirrors. Since the walls absorb most of the light, adding mirrors can reflect a large portion of the light. This easy fix can help you reduce the overall total amount of lights necessary.
When you get to countertops, try to find recycled tiles or stained chipboard as an alternative. These materials are just as cost effective as standard counters; however, the materials are recycled. Rather than ending up in a landfill, the company cleans, treats, and re-manufactures the materials into useable products. Best of all, you can find countertops like these that are coated with a special material that prevents things from sticking to them.
With the right research and investment of time, you can easily redesign your kitchen into a beautiful cooking environment that everyone will enjoy. Simply check at local stores and online for good deals on products you need for the project to save. You will see a noticeable improvement in the quality of living and reduced utility bills almost instantly.
Posted by Barry Cohen. Posted In : going green