Assorted Green-Tops

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Shetkastone.com Shetkastone is a revolutionary product that has a 100% sustainable life cycle. Products that are produced from shetkaSTONE are manufactured from pre and post consumer waste paper and rely on using none of the Earth's overtapped resources. All by-products (waste created in the manufacturing process) can be recycled back into the manufacturing process. www.shetkastone.com

Eleek Eleek Recycled Aluminum Countertops are designed specifically to fit standard kitchen countertops. They are custom made to your specifications. Frontwrap, sidewrap and backsplash features can be built in, creating a sleek, modern integrated surface.

Lithistone Environmentally appropriate technologies are combined to create our proprietary mixes, which consist of a natural mineral binder, different grades of sand and stone, recycled material, and organic mineral pigments. Lithistone can be customized to meet virtually any specifications with regards to size, shape, colors, and textural variations.

Squak Mountain Stone A Fibrous-cement material comprised of recycled paper, recycled glass, coal fly-ash and Portland cement. Material is hand-cast into “slabs” as an alternative to natural or quarried stone. Resembles soapstone or limestones.

Trinity Glass Products Recycled glass and concrete countertops

Eco-top EcoTop is composed of a Forest Stewardship Council-certified 50/50 blend of bamboo fiber, a rapidly renewable resource, and recycled wood fiber salvaged from demolition sites. These materials are bound together by a water-based resin formula that is both petroleum-free and VOC-free. Because of this, EcoTop products can earn you up to six points on your next LEED project.

IceStone IceStone® durable surfaces are strong like granite, not as porous as marble and heat-resistant like stone. The chemical composition is benign and 99.5% inorganic making it a very safe material from the standpoint of toxicity and fire resistance. Due to its high recycled content and Cradle to Cradle Certification, IceStone® materials can be used towards LEED points. www.icestone.biz

EnviroGlas EnviroGLAS Terrazzo is made of post-consumer and post-industrial recycled glass. Over 40 billion glass bottles are made every year, and 75% of them wind up in landfills. Many municipalities have stopped collecting glass for recycling due to a lack of market. We offer a solution to that problem. Each EnviroGLAS product is about 75% recycled glass and 25% binder by volume. (www.enviroglasproducts.com)

Richlite Richlite Company, a manufacturer of paper-based countertops, offers a collection of warm and natural-feeling surface materials that breathe new life into the kitchen, bath and office. Richlite’s® unique paper surfaces bring a soft and comfortable ambience to a room that's rarely achieved through cold, hard stone and plastic solid surfaces. It’s made from environmentally sustainable resources and is an attractive, durable, long-lasting material that complements a variety of design tastes. www.richlite.com

Avonite Avonite's solution has been to adhere to the principles of sustainable design - the art of designing and constructing building which comply with the principles of economic, social and ecological sustainability and conservation. Widely acknowledged as an innovator in solid surfacing, Avonite Surfaces has leveraged that excellence to create ecologically sound products which are cost-effective and elegant. Avonite's Recycled collection has eight colors and are SCS certified, as well as NSF & FDA approved

Alkemi Made from 60% post industrial aluminum waste and resins. It is strong and exquisitely beautiful to the eye. Surfaces may sanded and buffed to a matte or high gloss. www.renewedmaterials.com

Vetrazzo All of the glass used in Vetrazzo is recycled, and it makes up about 85% of the total material. Most of the glass comes from curbside recycling programs. Other glass comes from windows, dinnerware, stemware, windshields, stained glass, laboratory glass, reclaimed glass from building demolition, traffic lights and other unusual sources. Every Vetrazzo surface has its own history. Due to its high recycled content, using Vetrazzo can help your project qualify for LEED certification.

PaperStone is composed of postconsumer waste paper and a natural resin is used in its manufacture. Very strong and durable, its Certified line of counters uses 100 percent postconsumer waste. (www.paperstoneproducts.com)

Craft-Art Company Wood countertops and reclaimed wood. Eight new reclaimed wood countertop options are now available from Craft-Art. The use of beautiful wood from the 1800s and 1900s, eco-friendly and functional, supports the goal to recycle the Earth’s resources as part of the sustainable building movement. Barn Red Oak, Chestnut, Beech, Heart Pine, Cypress, Barn White Oak.

Endura Wood Products Endura Wood Products offers a wide variety of certified and rediscovered woods and wood products for homes and business. We believe that sourcing and offering only certified and rediscovered forest products is the best way to insure that our children can still see -- and use -- both the forest and the trees.

Syndcrete Natural cement based, pre cast product, green/sustainable, high recycled content, chemically inert, no off-gassing, aggregates: post consumer bottle glass, tempered glass, wood chips, metal shavings, shells, more. Contributes from 2-8 LEED points.

Bio Glass Glass is made of almost 100% crystalline silica in the form of quartz containing 70-72% weight % silicon dioxide. Bio-Glass consists of 100% recycled glass. Bio-Glass colors depend on recycled components (hollow glass, tableware, and/or factory shards)

Caeserstone CaesarStone is the first and only quartz surface to earn the ISO 14001 Certification for its compliance and commitment to the best green manufacturing processes. The company is committed to creating a better quality environment and is implementing procedures to prevent pollution and waste reduction at its manufacturing facility. In addition, CaesarStone is also certfied ISO 9002 (Quality Management standard) and NSF 51, is LEED (new commercial construction and major renovation projects) compliant and sports the Good Housekeeping Seal.

VitraStone We fabricate eco friendly sinks and surfaces made from a special blend of ceramic cement, fly ash, and recycled glass. VitraStone has a soft satin finish with endless color and design options. We offer a selection of standard sink and countertop systems along with a custom design service. We are available nation wide and will ship anywhere. For residential and commercial applications, VitraStone is a smart choice.

Icestone and Paperstone are involved in Cradle-to-Cradle www.mbdc.com

Remodeling tips for a Green kitchen:

1.Energy Efficient Appliances:
The refrigerator is one of the home's highest consumers of energy. Since July of 2001 the national energy efficiency standards for new refrigerators has required manufacturers to make more efficient models. Utility providers in some states offer rebates for homeowners who purchase models that exceed the minimum standard . Looking for the Energy Star® sticker on all your kitchen appliances is a great way of making your kitchen Greener. Once you have your "Green appliances" make sure you use the water and energy-saving settings on your kitchen's refrigerator and dishwasher as much as possible.

2. Lighting:
Energy efficient lighting can cut down on your utility bill. Most standard fixtures are compatible with compact fluorescents (CFLs). CFLs can save 75% of the electricity that incandescents bulbs use. CFL technology has come a long way. In the past, some people stayed away from CFLs because they didn't like the sterile light they gave off, reminding them of older office lighting. CFLs now offer cool and warm light and are available in a wider range of wattage and lumens. Look for the Energy Star® on this product as well. While the initial cost of these bulbs is slightly higher, they last eight times as long.

Designing a kitchen with good natural lighting cuts down on the need to use electricity and is a Green kitchen choice that you may have overlooked.

3. Hypoallergenic Materials:
As the number of people who suffer from environmental allergies and chemical sensitivities increases, so does the need for hypoallergenic building materials. Building or remodeling your kitchen can produce toxins that are harmful to indoor air quality. To reduce this problem there are low-toxicity finishes and surfaces available on the market. Look for products that have water based adhesives and finishes and ones that don't have synthetic formaldehyde resins.

Use paint with low-VOC or no-VOC (volatile organic compounds). No-VOC paint is generally a little more expensive than conventional paint, while low-VOC paint is about the same price. Here are just a few companies that manufacture Low- and No-VOC Paints:

Benjamin Moore & Co. - Pristine® Eco-Spec®
BioShield Paints
Home Depot
Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company
Sherwin-Williams - HealthSpec® paints

Most major paint companies have a line of Low- and No-VOC Paints. Manufacturers are endeavoring to meet the demand for Green products. They are becoming increasingly affordable too. Research products on the Internet before you decide what you are going to use in a kitchen remodel. It's all about choice.

Good ventilation is an integral part of building a Green kitchen. Proper ventilation will help maintain superior indoor air quality.

4. Green Cabinets:
There are more Green kitchen cabinet options available on the market today. Many of the options are made from rapidly renewable resources and salvaged materials. Wheatboard cabinets, for example, are covered with wood veneers. Manufacturers offer these cabinets with ultra low VOC, water based adhesives and finishes.

Another quick growing renewable resource that is used for cabinets is bamboo. You can contact the bamboo cabinet manufacturer about special glue options for individuals with chemical sensitivities.

5.KCMA:
When looking at Green options for kitchen cabinets you may find that the manufacturer product has a KCMA Certified Cabinet™ Seal. This seal tells you that the cabinet has been tested by The Kitchen Manufacturers Association and deemed durable under tough kitchen conditions.

6. Green Contractors:
Contractors that want to educate themselves about Green construction can find out more information by visiting NAHB - the National Association of Home Builders' web site. You can order NAHB's Model Green Home Building Guidelines from their site. American homeowners need more Green Builders. Educate yourself on the guidelines for Green home building so that you can provide your clients with a wide variety of options. Homeowners can also school themselves about Green Building. This will enable them to make Green choices that meet their requirements, preferences and budget.

7. Green Kitchen Products:
Cork flooring is durable, comfortable under foot and is a terrific insulator for both sound and heat. Cork is also hypoallergenic and environmentally friendly, making it a great Green flooring product.

There are a number of eco-friendly companies out there that make glass tiles out of recycled glass that make stunning backsplashes. Glass tiles do not give off emissions and they won't damage indoor air quality. Consult the manufacturer's instruction guide for instructions on proper installation and to ensure you are using a glue product that will not yellow.

Green products are becoming more readily available on the market. Have fun researching more Green design options for your kitchen remodel!