How to Be Green: Choosing a Countertop for Your Kitchen or Bath Remodel

Green is today's buzzword in the kitchen and bath industry. Sometimes being green costs more on the front end with higher prices for products, but will save you money in the long term with decreased maintenance, water usage, and electrical bills. But you can be green and save money right away when selecting your new kitchen or bath countertops.

Below you will find some great companies manufacturing green products and some other ideas for those DIYers out there.

Some of the items listed below do cost a little more. But some won't cost you anything but a little time and creativity.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
    
   Vetrazzo.com: Alehouse Amber

   Choose recycled glass, metal, or paper surfaces. Vetrazzo is the original and has some gorgeous colors using recycled glass from things we use everyday, such as beer bottles, wine bottles. Ice Stone manufactures products using recycled glass and concrete.Alkemi countertops are made with post industrial scrap waste but don't let that turn you off. The surfaces are gorgeous and come in a variety of colors. Paperstone is a solid surface material that is made from 100% post consumer recyled cardboard.

2. Consider reclaimed wood or metal. Old wooden panels, doors, and tin ceiling tiles can be cut, sanded, painted and reworked in ways that are only limited by your imagination.

3. 
    
   www.3-form.com: 100%

   Research other man made counter top materials: If you are not familiar with the brand 3form check them out NOW! Their 100% line is made with 100% post consumer recycled products. Their other products are always cutting edge and worth a look too.

4. 
    
   Gaudi's Mosaic Tilework at Parc Guell

   Make your own mosaic design using broken tiles and objects. Anyone that has visited Barcelona learns about the great and often controversial Antonio Gaudi. What many people do not know is that the eccentric architect was way ahead of his time.

Resources

• 3-form
• Alkemi Countertops - Made from Recylcled Scrap Metal
• Vetrazzo Countertops - Made from Recylcled Glass
• Learn more about Barcelona's Parc Guell
• Paper Stone Countertops - Made from Recycled Carcboard

[lyndseydavis]

on 1/22/2010 Very interesting article on using recycled materials for countertops. 5*

[lyndseydavis]

on 1/22/2010 Very interesting article on using recycled materials for countertops. 5*

[a4gllc]

on 11/20/2009 You just opened a new idea to add character to my bathroom. Thank you!