Guide to a Green Kitchen

Basics for Kitchen Countertops

The countertop is the showpiece of your kitchen, but it has to be functional and durable, too. Just as there are many styles to fit any taste, there are a growing number of green options available, depending on your budget, how you use your kitchen, and how green you want it to be.

Because you prepare the food you eat on and around your countertop, the choice you make can have significant environmental health impacts. No kitchen counter will have absolutely zero impact, but you can use this guide to help figure out which mixture of choices is right for you.

Granite Countertops

The ever-popular choice is a symbol of class and elegance for (many)..., it's quite durable, has a high degree of heat resistance, and comes in a huge variety of colors, mosaics and styles.

Installation of Granite Countertops

If you decide to go with granite, it's pretty tough stuff to install yourself. Every job is different, but for a project over about six or eight square feet, you'd better be pretty strong and pretty handy to do it yourself. Best left to the pros.

Concrete Countertops

It's not just for foundations any more. Concrete is growing in popularity as an interior building material, and can be a smart (if not entirely green — more on that in a sec) choice if you have a custom kitchen or need oddly-shaped counters. Its aesthetic may not be for everyone, but the spare, simple style goes well in some kitchens.

It can be custom-poured, which can be really handy if you have an unusual kitchen or need custom counters. Since it's customizable, you can also add pigments to create most any color you like, though carefully consider the toxicity of the dyes in use. Concrete is very heat resistant, and extremely durable if installed properly — it could be the last countertop you'll ever need.

Installation of Concrete Countertops

Unless you have experience pouring concrete, better leave this one to those who do — it can make a real mess if you don't do it properly.

Ceramic Tile Countertops

Made from natural clays, minerals, and sands, ceramic tiles are a durable, modular options for kitchen countertops. They come in a wide range of price points, styles, and can be custom-made to fit your exact specifications.

Ceramic tiles don't scratch as easily as glass tiles, so they can be more durable. They're also quite heat resistant, and, in some cases, can be replaced one at a time, if some get broken or chipped.

Installation of Ceramic Tile Countertops

It's trickier than the (usually smaller) glass tiles, so, unless you're experienced, best leave it to somebody who knows what they're doing.

excerpts of an article by Colin Dunn, PlanetGreen.Discovery.com
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