The Distinctive Life

WATER-SAVING FAUCETS

LED LIGHTING There are several ways that rethinking your kitchen’s lighting scheme can take your home in a greener direction. Recessed ceiling can lights look lovely, but they aren’t always airtight, which leads to rising heat or swirling air conditioning escaping into your attic or upper floors. Instead, you may want to invest in long-lasting, energy-efficient LED lighting or other options that can be networked into smart homes. Motion sensors will turn lights on and off as needed, and a smartphone can control networked lights whether you are on vacation or realize halfway to work that you left the lights on. Brands like Kohler are introducing stunning LED options that can elevate a space, from your kitchen to the master bedroom. As Martha Stewart Living reveals: “KOHLER Lighting … is comprised of six swanky collections featuring 200 new designs, ranging from LED chandeliers to modern farmhouse-style pendants and everything in between.” OTHER EARTH- FRIENDLY OPTIONS Once you have selected your smart kitchen appliances and accessories, you can make numerous other choices during your renovation for a more sustainable space. For example, Better Homes & Garden loves the idea of adding solid cork flooring, as it “costs roughly the same as hardwood, but solid-cork flooring has a distinct ecological advantage — sustainability.” And it takes significantly less time (only nine years) for cork trees to regenerate. Cabinets can be challenging and expensive to replace when going green, but there is an increasing number of options out there that do not use urea-formaldehyde.

It might seem counter-intuitive to say that your kitchen sink’s water faucet can help eliminate water waste, but it’s true. No- touch smart kitchen faucets became popular during the pandemic, as just a wave of your hand or a request to a smart-enabled system started the flow of water. But light-touch models continue to thrive as well, as just a light touch anywhere on the unit turns on the water. Either model makes cooking more manageable, and Better Homes & Gardens loves that the faucets “limit cross- contamination and conserve water — and money.” Smart faucets that have built-in aerators are also worth considering, as air bubbles help increase your water pressure while decreasing the actual volume of water used. Also, recirculation pumps are becoming popular, as they maintain hot water at the tap itself – no more watching water flow down the drain as you wait for it to get hot. Speaking of water, would you love to get fresh, filtered water instead of relying on plastic bottles? The editors at Martha Stewart Living are big fans of the “Elkay ezH2O Liv built-in filtered water dispenser.” It features a gorgeous design and the ability to have filtered water inside and outside of the kitchen space. If you love to entertain, this can be a game-changer. The magazine raves: “Thanks to its chic glass front design, NSF-certified filter, and sensor-activated technology (for hands-free filling), this state-of-the-art water appliance is every bit as pretty as it is practical.” FILTEREDWATER DISPENSERS

Solid wood or wheatboard cabinets finished with a non-toxic sealer or paint are gorgeous, eco-friendly, and well worth the price. Finally, look into eco-friendly wallpaper using no-VOC glue and low or zero VOC paint and finishes for the walls and countertops, including vegan options. The results will look fantastic, and you may even improve your health in the process.

41 bhgrecollection.com |