One of the current trends in Houston is green home remodeling and much of this taking place in the kitchens and bathrooms. The ecology movement has been stirring for years but now people are not just suggesting that their lives be more in tune with the environment they are demanding it. And green home building is not the only area where this is taking place.

Green Home Renovating

Within the past few years there has been an increase in green home renovating as well. This includes recycling building materials from demolition jobs to choosing materials that are low in volatile substances. And with the earth’s resources becoming scarce many homeowners in Houston are looking to contractors that offer renewable building products, ones that are self-sustaining at the source. Energy and water are also being carefully scrutinized and new building and renovating techniques in Houston are being implemented to conserve these dwindling necessities.

Green Houston Kitchens and Bathrooms

A green kitchen or bathroom is not difficult to either build or, in the case or a present house, renovate. The process begins with a good design that includes appliances that are both energy-efficient and conserve water. Then you choose materials that will reduce your carbon footprint.

Water Conservation

The biggest user of water in the home is the bathroom. The new low-flow toilets and showerheads can decrease water usage by over 50%. Many leaking taps have perfectly good seals but the user hasn’t shut them off properly. Over the period of a day you can use up to half a tank of hot water. Some new sinks feature an automatic turn on and shut off feature that eliminates taps being left on too long and even leaks. Most kitchen refrigerators have a water cooler built in so that a person does not have to run the water to get it cold enough.

The next tip for water conservation in Houston kitchens and bathrooms is recycling gray water. This is the drainage water from sinks and showers and, after a mild decontamination, this can be used in toilet tanks. Another use is for irrigating the garden and trees and, in this case, no treatment is necessary.

Power Miser Lights and Appliances

Conserving energy in the kitchen begins with the appliances. Most new appliances have an EnergyStar rating sticker meaning that the components take up a minimum amount of electricity. Lighting in kitchens and bathrooms should be changed from incandescent to more energy-efficient bulbs like LED lighting.

Water Heating

One of the biggest power draws in a Houston kitchens and bathrooms is the water heater. Many new homes are being outfitted with on-demand, or “tankless,” water heating units. These are small boiler units that can be installed near bathrooms or kitchens so that the heated water gets right to the point of need. It only heats up what is needed and shuts off, unlike the constant heating of a regular water heater.

Solar-assist water systems features a bank of tubes called an “array.” This is placed in a sunny area where glycol – like automobile anti-freeze - in the tubes absorbs the heat and is then pumped down to an exchanger. Cold water is moved through this exchanger in copper tubes picking up the heat from the glycol. Since water coming out of the ground pipes is only 40 degrees Fahrenheit it can be heated up as much as 60 degrees more in winter and much higher in the summer. This pre-heated water enters the normal water heater and needs less energy to bring up to showering temperature.

Flooring

New products such as cork and bamboo have changed flooring in Houston kitchens and bathrooms. Cork comes from tree bark, where and the tree is never harmed in the harvesting, and bamboo is a grass that grows to harvesting height every two years. Cork is usually made into engineered “click” flooring that can be sealed to prevent moisture from getting in. Bamboo is manufactured in either engineered laminates or plank form.

Another product making a comeback is linoleum. Replaced by vinyl flooring in the 1970’s this completely natural product is made from linseed oil with a jute backing and comes in a variety of colors and textures.

Localized Products

Many products are low-carbon and low in volatile organic compounds but have to be shipped from thousands of miles. This burns up fuel which ultimately ends up as carbon emissions. Many Houston bathroom and kitchen products are manufactured locally so look for this when renovating.

Get the Pros

One the best ways to make sure that you get top notch green remodeling is to hire a Houston kitchen and bathroom remodeling contractor. Their designers would be happy to discuss your concerns with the environment to help you get your dream kitchen in an earth-friendly way. Just post you project and get estimates from Houston kitchen and bathroom contractors who want to see your dreams succeed.

<<--Back to Home Improvement Tips and Articles Main Index>