Buyers Want Eco-Friendly with Style
by Cornelia Stumpf
Green-a word that did not mean much to consumers in the past years-has taken on a completely new meaning to many home buyers. And it's taking the interior design and kitchen design industries by storm.More andmore, homeowners are looking for LEED certified homes-and builders and manufactures are listening.
History of Green
The trend of incorporating "green" into everyday lifestyle has been popular for over 25 years in European countries and is bringing several new European-basedmanufactures to the U.S.market. This has inspired many American companies to rethink their methods of production and design, resulting in more attractive and more energy friendly products on the market than ever before.
In 1990, Germany was one of the first European countries to establish a private initiative to set up and operate a nationwide, consumer-oriented raw materials collection system. The result was not only a system that delivered re-usedmaterials, but also recovered secondary rawmaterials and returned them to the production loop in the interests of sustainability. Today,with the EuropeanUnion in place, countries in Europe follow strict green standards and guidelines set by their governments.
Eco-Friendly Today
Making strides in maintaining green standards here in the U.S., eco-friendly kitchen components can be found today at many local builder stores as well as in high-end kitchen design showrooms, allowing consumers with various needs to incorporate green living into their kitchen designs.
This year will see the continuation of a trend coupled with the commitment of consumers to incorporate ecologically friendlymaterials and energy efficient appliances into kitchen design. The focus is on combining the "green" aspect with eye-catching style and innovative modern design features.
Many industry leaders believe the popularity of green kitchen design incorporating modern features will continue to expand. Homebuilders are excited about new, groundbreaking designs in cabinets featuring paper stone, recycled glass and recycled wood combined with the sleek look of European style cabinetry.
But it's not only the cabinets and appliance components that add to the green trend. To complement environmentally-friendly cabinets, recycled, engineered stone for countertops and backsplashes are also grabbing the attention of builders. Recycled stone featured in a variety of attractive colors is giving granite a run for its money. No matter what look home buyers go for, there is an abundance of highly energy efficient appliances that are both affordable and adaptable to a variety of tastes and styles.
Flooring is also going green, with the renewable resource, bamboo, replacing traditional wood flooring in the kitchen of many homes. Because bamboo is a species of grass that grows quicker than the trees used for wood flooring, it's considered a sustainable resource that is a smart, eco-friendly option. For homeowners who have their hearts set on wood flooring, using reclaimed wood is something that is also gaining in popularity.
These are only a few of the many green trends today's home buyers are seeking. Homebuilders and designers should keep abreast of green choices in kitchen design, so they can be ready to meet the desires of today's eco-conscious buyers.
Cornelia Stumpf is Owner and Principal of CSCP Consult LLC, a public relations andmarketing consulting (rmthat specializes in services for architects, designers and design related companies in the green building (eld. Bazzeo by NYLOFT is one of the leading U.S. manufacturers of innovative green design kitchen cabinets.
