The MetaEfficient Kitchen

The kitchen is often the heart of a home – it’s one of the most-used rooms in a household for both working and socializing, so shouldn’t it be as functional and energy-efficient as possible?  Here is a collection of design ideas and products, both big and small, to help you create a beautiful and efficient kitchen.

Kitchen Cabinets – Refinishing vs. Replacing
Choosing the right kitchen cabinets depends on a huge variety of factors.  But if you’re considering remodeling an existing kitchen, refinishing the cabinets instead of replacing them can be an extremely efficient approach.  Even simply swapping hardware like handles and hinges can have a big aesthetic impact.

Refinish Cabinets Or Replace Hardware & Doors For A New Look

If your kitchen needs a more serious upgrade, replacing the cabinet doors while leaving the existing cabinet structure will minimize the waste (and expense) of the renovation.  And the finished product can give you the look of an entirely new kitchen.

But if you’re building a new home, or if you really need to replace your current cabinets, consider visiting a “reuse-it-yourself” home improvement store.  A growing number of these stores offer new surplus items as well as gently-used supplies from other renovation projects, which can provide huge cost savings.  Some of the most popular R.I.Y. stores are Habitat For Humanity’s nationwide network of ReStore locations.  Visit the Habitat For Humanity website to learn more or find a location near you.

EnviroGLAS Recycled Glass Countertop

EnviroGLAS Recycled Glass Countertop

An ideal kitchen countertop will be functional, and it will be environmentally sensible (which means non-toxic materials and minimizing the environmental impact of its production).  Some of our favorite countertop designs are the beautiful, durable, and low-maintenance terrazzo surfaces from EnviroGLAS.  They require no waxes or special cleaning products, and best of all, they’re created from 100% recycled glass and porcelain bound together with resins that emit no toxic VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

EnviroGLAS countertops are available in a huge variety of colors and styles.  Learn more at the EnviroGLAS website.

The Faucet:  Add An Aerator…

Danco Perfect Match Faucet Aerator

An aerator attached to your existing kitchen faucet is a quick, cheap, and simple way to reduce water use without compromising performance.  The Danco Perfect Match aerator ($2.66 at Amazon) is a basic model that reduces water flow to 1.5 gallons per minute – still plenty of volume for most kitchen use.

… And Consider A Faucet Pedal Control

Pedal Works HandsFree Faucet Controller

Adding a pedal control to your kitchen faucet is more involved (and yes, more expensive) than simply adding an aerator – but it’s a great way to reduce water usage and add convenience in the kitchen.  A pedal controller can be fitted onto an existing hand faucet, and helps avoid letting the water run for tasks like rinsing dishes.  Plus, as a bonus, users can wash their hands without dirtying the faucet handles.

One of our favorite models is the Pedal Works HandsFree Faucet Controller, available at Amazon for $349).

Pick The Right Dishwasher – And Enjoy It
In our recent post about reducing your household water use, we discussed how using a dishwasher is actually quite efficient – as long as it’s an energy-efficient model and you use it properly.  A fully loaded, modern dishwasher typically uses less water and energy than hand-washing the same number of dishes in the sink.

Bosch SHX68E Evolution 800 Plus dishwasher

There are myriad options depending on your size requirements and price range, but you should definitely look for an Energy-Star rated model.  And remember that for major appliances like dishwashers, paying a bit more now may save you money down the road in energy savings and durability.  For example, the Bosch SHX68E Evolution 800 Plus dishwasher ($1,732.56 at Amazon) is a serious investment, but it’s one of the most energy-efficient models available and uses just 1.56 gallons of water per wash cycle.

Microwave Cooking – Fast & Efficient
We haven’t included a range/stovetop in this list because there are so many different owner preferences and needs, and even the most basic choice of gas versus electric often depends on where users live.  But for day-to-day cooking and reheating, a microwave is often far more convenient and energy efficient than a full-size oven, and Panasonic’s NN-SD688S is a solid all-around performer.  The mid-size design offers a 1.2 cubic foot capacity without taking up too much counter space, and the 13.5″ rotating turntable works with “inverter” technology to heat food evenly.  Various preset modes simplify the settings for different uses like defrosting or reheating, and the 1,300-watt power is plenty for most household use.

Panasonic NN-SD688S Prestige Microwave Oven

You can find the Panasonic NN-SD688S Prestige Microwave Oven at Amazon for $140.99.

LED Under-Cabinet Lighting
LEDs are perfect for task lighting applications like under-cabinet fixtures in a kitchen.  They’re extraordinarily energy efficient, they produce clean white light, they’re durable, and they produce minimal heat.  They can be installed in tight spots with less clearance, and they avoid adding more even more heat to a workspace like a kitchen.

Juno Lighting Pro Series Under-Cabinet LED Light

LED fixtures have a higher purchase price than comparable fluorescent or halogen/xenon fixtures, but they pay for themselves over time.  The 30-inch Juno Lighting Pro Series Under-Cabinet LED fixture ($204.56 at Amazon) contains 8 LED modules in a slim aluminum casing that produce warm 3000K light, and the LEDs use just 1/8 the energy of incandescent lamps.  Best of all, the lifespan of the LEDs is 50,000 hours, meaning zero maintenance.

Last But Not Least – The Fridge
We’ve saved the best for last – a refrigerator is usually one of the biggest electricity consumers in a home, so finding a model that combines functionality with energy-efficiency is key.  If you’re still using an older model, an upgrade to a modern refrigerator will offer huge energy savings.  And don’t move that old energy hog into the garage for extra storage – make sure the new one is the right size for your household.

You can get the most out of your fridge by using it as efficiently as possible.  Make sure all door seals are in good shape by closing a dollar bill in the door – a good seal will hold it tight.  Keep your condenser coils free of dust and debris, and make sure the refrigerator isn’t located in direct sunlight.  Try to keep it well stocked, since a full fridge tends to stay cold once the contents are chilled (just leave a little space for cold air to circulate).  And keep the temperature in the right range (35-38F for the fridge, 0F for the freezer) since going colder just wastes power.

Sun Frost Energy Efficient Refrigerator

When shopping for a new fridge, look for a model with the freezer on the top or bottom, since side-by-side designs use more electricity.  Through-door icemakers/water dispensers also reduce energy efficiency, so skip those features.  Although they’re not widely distributed, Sun Frost produces some extraordinarily energy-efficient refrigerators, including a 16 cubic foot model that consumes just 372 kWh annually.

The Consortium for Energy Efficiency offers a comprehensive list of Energy Star rated refrigerators, as well as the even more efficient CEE Tier 3-rated models.

For more information on other kitchen gadgets and appliances, you might also be interested in MetaEfficient’s posts on chef’s knives, blenders, slow cookers, and juice extractors.

Kenya Hara wrote the book “Designing Design“, which is 472 page tribute to “white” not just as color but as a design concept. It contains chapters by like-minded designers such as Jasper Morrison and Naota Fukasawa.

The works of German industrial designer Dieter Rams (Braun), and Apple’s “Snow White” design language are other examples of the “less is more” approach to design.

For Kenya Hara, white represents emptiness. It entails abstract concepts like absence and absolute zero. For me, going further back, it brings to mind the spare aesthetic of zen.

Hara was also art director Hara is art director of the unique Japanese retailer Muji. Their focus is on design minimalism, avoidance of waste, and a no-logo or “no-brand” policy. I like the Muji concept of producing spare, useful products, where the design itself becomes transparent.

Muji product rate quite high on the meta-efficiency scale.

There are several New York Muji stores open now. But there’s also a company in U.S. with a similar design language called DBA. This company also sells household goods, but their focus is not only on design simplicity, but also on green techniques such as efficient construction, intelligent packaging and the use of responsible materials. Additionally, all their products are produced in the U.S. using wind power.

It’s great to see a real company synthesizing pared down design with effective green design.

Here are some DBA products:

The DBA pen is 98% biodegradable: it’s made potato starch, and contains non-toxic ink.

The DBA Extension Cord — which is “100% PVC free and has been developed to release no toxic substances in its production, use or disposal”. The recycled polypropylene spool allows 20 feet of cord fits inside the flat disc.

This is the DBA dish rack — it has a flexible mesh which connects the posts, allowing the structure to be twisted open and rinsed. Both the main body and the tray are recycled polypropylene.

Link: DBA

Khunu is a start-up company that aims to be the first to bring yak wool clothing to the global market. They offer a range of athletic clothing that is made with 100% Himalayan yak wool. What are the advantages of yak wool? Khunu says that independent lab tests have shown yak wool to be 10-15% warmer than merino wool of Australia and New Zealand. They claim the wool has a luxurious hand feel which is comparable to cashmere, because only the ultrafine down fibers of the wool are used.

The yaks are usually raised by nomadic Tibetan and Mongolian families. Their wool is combed (not shorn) once per year in the springtime when the animals shed their winter coat. See more information here.

Currently, Khunu is offering a limited number of items from their web site, until their formal launch in September 2010.

The Yak: The Creature With The Warm Wool

Website: Khunu

Looptworks Hoptu Laptop Sleeve

I’ve been testing some Looptwork products, and they are amazing. Here’s why: the company makes all their products from 100% industrial “excess” materials. That means every zipper, button and thread used in their designs was about to be thrown out. For example, the Hoptu Laptop Sleeve shown above is made with 100% upcycled nylon neoprene which was recovered from a wetsuit factory. All Looptwork products are limited edition runs. This is because production only continues until the reclaimed material runs out, as explained in the Looptworks FAQ:

We never know how much of any one material we’ll find. But we use what we find until it runs out. Production runs go as low as 100 pieces and up to 500, and each garment is hand numbered by either color or style. It’s a reminder that when you buy a LooptWorks product you get a one of a kind item, literally preventing the materials used to make it from going into a landfill.

Looptworks also offers a collection of men’s and women’s clothes. The Men’s Kawasan Jacket shown below is made of 61% organic cotton and 39% cotton canvas recovered fabric. It sells for $95.

Looptworks Kawasan Jacket

Ultra-Efficient Design Meets Low-Impact Manufacturing: Patagonia Wetsuits (photo: Patagonia)

If you’re not a surfer or a diver, a wetsuit may seem like a fairly specialized or even obscure piece of equipment. But once in a while, a product arrives on the market that’s noteworthy not only for how well it performs its job, but also for how it’s designed and produced. Such is the case with the amazingly efficient line of wetsuits recently added to Patagonia’s catalog of outdoor gear.

Traditional wetsuit designs have incorporated some decidedly non-green manufacturing techniques. Neoprene rubber, the insulating core of a wetsuit, is commonly produced from petroleum-based chemicals, and the sheer amount of raw materials consumed in the production process has been a cause for concern. But Patagonia, a company with a long history of sustainable design innovations and environmental stewardship, reasons that customers needing a wetsuit for their outdoor pursuits clearly enjoy spending time in nature, so their equipment should respect the environment too.

Patagonia’s wetsuit rubber is produced from a limestone-based process, instead of traditionally used petroleum derivatives (a thorough description of the technical process can be found on Patagonia’s blog). The limestone material still carries an ecological footprint, but it represents an important move toward exploring alternative technologies and manufacturing techniques. And as Patagonia points out, a limestone spill is much easier to clean up than an oil spill!

Patagonia Wetsuit (photo: Patagonia)

Most important, these wetsuits do a remarkable job of keeping the wearer warm. Neoprene’s insulating properties come from all the tiny air bubbles trapped within the rubber (the same principle of trapped air insulation that makes a puffy down jacket so warm, only underwater). Patagonia’s neoprene is produced with a whopping 98% closed cell ratio – which is a technical way of saying that their wetsuits work far more efficiently than most, so a thinner layer of neoprene insulates as well as other much thicker suits. And a wetsuit that provides superior warmth with thinner construction means fewer raw materials are consumed, as well as an end product that is far more streamlined and comfortable for the user.

Chlorine-Free Wool And Recycled Polyester Lining (photo: Patagonia)

Besides the limestone neoprene, Patagonia has carefully selected other component materials that are easier on the environment than traditional materials – and work better as well. Patagonia wetsuits are lined with a grid of unbleached merino wool and recycled polyester, which increases warmth and wicks moisture better than nylon. The kneepads are made of silicone instead of more commonly used polyvinyl chloride, providing better durability without the nasty chemicals found in PVC. The wetsuits also incorporate several clever design solutions to prolong their usable life (such as seams that are glued, blind-stitched, and reinforced), since durability is another measure of a product’s true efficiency and reduced environmental footprint.

Patagonia is reluctant to call their products “green”, since they still have an impact on the environment. But the company’s innovative approach to designing and producing their products is a huge step toward truly sustainable manufacturing.

GreenFiber Cocoon Insulation: Energy Efficiency From Recycled Material (photo: GreenFiber)

One of the simplest ways to improve a home’s energy efficiency and comfort is to make sure that it is properly insulated. Cocoon Insulation from North Carolina-based GreenFiber is a highly efficient insulator, offering more convenient installation and higher R-values than common alternatives, as well as utilizing recycled source material.

Cocoon Insulation is a cellulose material derived from 85% recycled paper products, and Greenfiber operates 11 manufacturing plants throughout the U.S. to maximize its use of locally available materials. Cocoon Insulation is non-toxic and contains no fiberglass or asbestos – which avoids exposing users to irritants, and requires no protective clothing or masks for installation.

Cocoon is a blown insulation, allowing much better coverage in tight, hard-to-reach spaces as well as faster installation times. The blown material adheres to any wood, gypsum, metal or concrete surface. GreenFiber states that by creating a better seal, Cocoon Insulation offers up to 26% better performance than other insulating materials with the same R-value. And because it’s up to three times as dense as fiberglass, an 8” layer of Cocoon provides an R-value comparable to 12” of loose fill insulation.

GreenFiber Cocoon Insulation (photo: Captain Planet Foundation)

GreenFiber’s insulation doesn’t just help maintain temperature. Cocoon is an effective soundproofing treatment as well, effective for use in applications such as a homes near a roadway or airport. And it can significantly improve a structure’s fire resistance as well – Cocoon Insulation is UL-approved for many of the Laboratories’ fire-resistant designs.

Keeping a home comfortable, saving energy, and improving fire safety – and using recycled material to do it. Not bad for a product that most homeowners will never see.

(via GreenFiber & Captain Planet Foundation)

The Contina line by Hape International is said to be the first range of 100% bamboo toys. They are colored with natural, water-based paints. The full range is available from Hape through Amazon. Found via: Eco Child’s Play

Cardboard can be incorporated in modern design pieces — check out this impressive gallery of cardboard furniture. Bloxes (shown above) are the latest option in cardboard furniture. The corrugated cardboard puzzle pieces lock together to form sturdy shapes such as chairs, walls, and play forts.

The creator of Bloxes, Aza Raskin, explains what they are:

Essentially 3D cardboard legos that ship flat, and fold up in modular building blocks that are strong enough to stand on. While they aren’t tech per se, we use them for building tables, walls, cubicles, and desks. Both Google and Mozilla have expressed interest in using them in their offices. So, this may well be the new thing in terms of agile office-space deployment. Don’t like where a wall is? Just move it! Don’t like the way it looks? Just rebuild it! They are cheaper than cubicles, and much more fun.

The 6-sided, 9.5 inch-square shapes are designed with CAD software and made in Chicago. Bloxes sells each case of 20 brown or white squares for $60, enough to build a form 36 inches by 45 inches.

Link: Bloxes

Cocona is a natural fabric enhancer that is made with activated carbon. The activated carbon is derived from coconut husks — it is a “waste” product of the water filter industry. But what does Cocona do exactly? It is said to help traditional fabrics resist moisture, control odor and shield ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Activated carbon has a huge absorbing area — one gram of it has a surface area the size of two tennis court. Some 40 outdoor clothing manufacturers, including GoLite, Marmot, Sierra Designs and Royal Robbins, are incorporating Cocona into their 2007 product lines.

Shown here is a Drimove Zip Top from GoLite that uses Cocona. Outside Magazine gave it a 2007 Green Gear Award. Gregory Haggquist, from the Cocona company, provides a detail explanation of how the product works:

Activated carbon uses the adsorbance process to control odors. Adsorbance is a reversible process dictated by temperature. The activated carbon surface area is full of pores, the sizes of the pores and the size of the adsorbant (odor) dictated the interaction energy between the adsorbant and the adsorbate. The higher the interaction energy the higher the temperature required to desorb the adsorbant.
COCONA uses coconut shell activated carbon. Body odors are molecules such as butyric acid, isovaleric acid, and trimethyl amine. These molecules are all similar in size. The coconut shell activated carbon has pore sizes that are just right to adsorb these molecules at ambient temperatures and desorb these molecules at temperatures found in a washer (hot water cycle) and cloth dryers. We verified this by testing the adsorbance capacity of each COCONA certified fabric. The test determines the adsorbance capacity using butane gas. We ran experimental trials where we saturated a COCONA fabric and then washed and dried the fabric 50 times. We found that the adsorbance capacity slightly increased over the 50 cycles. The capacity increased because more of the pores of the coconut shell carbon became exposed. The reason for this is in the patented process TrapTek uses to make COCONA yarns and fabrics. TrapTek uses a protective layer which coats the carbon during the processing of the yarn. If no protective layer is used when the polyester polymer is melted to be formed into yarn the polyester will fill up the activated carbon. In a sense this deactivates the activated carbon. When the polyester solidifies to form the yarn the carbon pores are filled and covered with polyester never to be exposed. However, in the TrapTek patented process we use a protective layer which covers and protects the pores during the yarn processing and fabric production. The final step in the fabric processing removes this protective layer exposing the activated carbon pores. Further washing continues to remove this protective layer exposing more of the activated carbon pores increasing the adsorbance capacity.

I’ve come to the conclusion that natural latex is the optimal mattress-making material. I’ve tried all kinds of mattresses: goose down, wool, foam, cotton futons and box spring mattresses. But I have to say that my first few nights sleeping on a latex mattress were the most comfortable I ever experienced.

It’s a natural material which we will probably never fully reproduce synthetically. Latex’s power is that it is yielding, but also highly resilient. Latex mattresses do not require flipping or turning, and last around 15 years.

The “mattress” I am sleeping on is actually a king-sized 2″ natural latex topper, which I purchased from U.S. Memory Foam. This company seems to have the best prices ($209 for a king-sized mattress topper). A 2″ topper seems to work quite well, they do also have 3″ and 4″ toppers. I also have a natural latex pillow.

Latex is the milky sap of the rubber tree. It is mostly harvested in South East Asia, where trees are tapped for latex by cutting a groove in the bark of the tree. It is a renewable process — each tree can produce latex for 20 years.

Latex is also hypo-allergenic and its anti-microbial properties inhibit the growth of bacteria, mildew, and dust mites.

I like 100% latex mattresses because they are completely biodegradable. Other “Talalay” latex mattresses have a synthetic material added, to increase their durability.

Here are a retailer that sells full, natural latex mattresses (i.e. not just a topper): Natural Lux Mattress by The Form Source.