It has been often thought that in order to achieve an environmentally-friendly, green kitchen that you would have to either shell out big bucks, or give up on some of the luxuries and the look of designer kitchens.  That is truly not the case today.  You work hard to have a nice home, and to provide your family with all the creature comforts as you possibly can.  Nice yard, comfortable furniture, adt home security , and so much more.  Why shouldn’t your kitchen reflect this as well.  There are numerous beautiful and affordable eco-friendly options.  If you have wanted to reduce your impact of the environment, now is the time to renovate your kitchen and make it green.  You can use friendly flooring, appliances, and countertops.  There are so many ways to make you kitchen eco-friendly from the ground up, and not only will going green in the kitchen help protect the environment, but it will save you money in the long run.  Take a look at all of the ideas for renovating your kitchen and making it eco-friendly and energy efficient:

• Sustainable Flooring—when renovating, look for flooring that is from a renewable source, recycled, or that can be repurposed.  Some options are:  cork, bamboo, reclaimed wood, linoleum, and tile or stone.  Cork floors are growing more popular.  IT is renewable and gives the same strength as wood.  Since cork is produced from tree bark, it does no damage to trees.  Bamboo is one the most environmentally friendly flooring options.  It grows quickly and is highly sustainable.  Reclaimed wood conserves natural resources and is a more affordable flooring option.  It offers a unique and rustic look.  Tile and stone flooring options are timeless.  They cause no harm to the environment because if they are removed, they can be repurposed.  Linoleum is made from all natural ingredients.  It is also durable and recommended for heavily trafficked areas.
• Appliances and Lighting—as you take on the task of budgeting your renovation, be sure to include the cost of new appliances and lighting.  It is important to look into purchasing Energy Star certified appliances to protect the environment, as well as, save you some money on energy.  Changing out appliances like induction stovetops, refrigerators, and dishwashers can be the best ways to be eco-friendly in your new kitchen.  Also, consider adding natural lighting to your space.  By using natural lighting in your newly remodeled kitchen, you can reduce the energy used for lighting by almost fifty percent.  Replace your light bulbs with low energy compact fluorescents or LED bulbs and you will also save money on your energy bill and reduce your impact on the environment.
• Countertops and Cabinetry—like flooring options, it is important to consider green options in countertops and cabinetry.  For cabinets, look for bamboo and wheat board.  Like flooring, bamboo cabinetry is eco-friendly because it grows quickly and can be gathered without damaging the roots.  Wheat, or straw, board is made from wheat straw.  Wheat straw is a farming waste by-product.  Using wheat board will save tons of waste in landfills.  Some eco-friendly countertop options are concrete, laminate, stainless steel, solid surfacing, recycled plastic, and stone.  If concrete is produced locally and if the cement is substituted with fly ash, then concrete is a great green option.  Laminates are “green” when a manufacturer uses nontoxic glues to stick the recycled plastic sheets to the formaldehyde-free substrate.  Stainless steel countertops are durable, easy to clean, and they are made from high recycled content.  Solid surfacing, or paper composite, counters are one of the greenest options for counters.  They are sturdy and scratch-resistant.