TIPS TO GREEN YOUR KITCHEN

Concern for the environment remains a high priority for many Canadians. McAllister Opinion Research has found in Environmental Monitor polls from 2005 – present that the environment is consistently the top issue. But what does that mean for individual action by Canadians?

In fact, protecting the environment can start in the home. The benefits of going green at home include improved indoor air quality and health by minimizing exposure to chemicals, to savings on your energy bill with more efficient appliances and a reduced overall environmental footprint.

Below are some tips to green your kitchen. A few sample ideas? Plant a ‘living wall’, buy Energy Star^® appliances and install cabinets that meet environmental standards. Here are some helpful tips to follow:

1. Buy local
Just as you buy local food, source local manufacturers and craftsmen who work with local materials.

2. Install cabinets that meet environmental standards
Look for ones that are certified by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), a leading third-party provider of certification, auditing and testing services to recognize the highest levels of performance in environmental protection and social responsibility.

3. Choose ENERGY STAR^® certified appliances
Look for rebates for the purchase of new ENERGY STAR^® certified refrigerators and freezers. More green rebates found here: www.ec.gc.ca and Energy Star.

4. Select renewable materials, such as cork or bamboo for flooring
Cork is harvested tree bark gathered in a way that doesn’t kill the tree. Bamboo is a rapid renewable material due to its speedy rate of growth.

5. Choose well-made products which will last for a long time
Avoid ‘planned obsolescence’, which is when manufacturers design a product to be obsolete after a certain time period or usage period. Look for companies that at least offer a limited lifetime warranty for their products.

6. Reduce unnecessary exposure to chemicals
Try a homemade all-purpose cleaner made with natural ingredients. The David Suzuki Foundation has recipe cards.

7. Create a kitchen recycling centre
Make it easy for you and your roommates to compost and recycle with a visible and central recycling centre.

8. Donate old kitchen cabinets and accessories
Check with your local Habitat for Humanity Restore.

9. Install aerated faucets
Today’s aerated faucets reduce water flow without sacrificing water pressure.

10. Plant a ‘living wall’
Living walls can purify air and cool room temperature. They are made up of panels already-planted with an assortment of species, such as azaleas or peace lilies. The panel is attached to a structural wall.

• Merit Kitchens introduced its new EcoPLUS line at K/BIS and promoted the fact that it has received a Four Star rating from Japan, which Merit calls “one of the most demanding standards in the world.” The cabinet line uses SCS-certified 100 percent pre-consumer recycled particleboard, which will help achieve LEED credits, Merit said. It is available in maple, oak, alder, cherry and pine.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL  STEWARDSHIP

We recognize protecting and improving the quality of our environment is of the utmost importance. In our production facility, we are dedicated to improving efficiency and reducing waste. Merit reduces, reuses, and recycles materials wherever allowable. As a result, we are proud to have been awarded Urban Impact Recycling certificates for sequestering approximately 11 tonnes of carbon emissions per annum from the environment. To reduce energy consumption, older machinery is replaced with more efficient equipment. Computers are employed to optimize wood product usage. Most importantly, we are proud to be Green Product pioneers; for many years, we have crafted EcoPlus, a environmentally sensitive, near-zero-formaldehyde emission cabinetry, for the Japanese market, and are excited to offer it now in North America. At Merit Kitchens, we are committed to contributing to the healthiness of homes and to the overall well-being of our planet.

What is our EcoPlus?  
EcoPlus, Merit Kitchens’ environmentally sensitive product line, was originally crafted over a decade ago to meet one of the most demanding standards in the world – the Japanese indoor air quality regulation. EcoPlus was awarded the highest rating – the coveted 4 stars – guaranteeing it to be healthier for homes, businesses, and the environment as a whole. It’s no wonder it’s a favorite product for Green building projects and environmentally savy consumers.
 

What is sustainable about this product?

EcoPlus Green Facts:  
1)  Merit utilizes a 100% preconsumer recycled material particleboard for its EcoPlus cases and Eurotech drawerboxes only Eurotech drawers qualify for the EcoPlus rating
2)  The particleboard has no added Urea Formaldehyde.
3)  The particleboard is EPP, CARB, and CPA certified.
4)  Merit’s EcoPlus has undergone eco-testing and certification in Japan: Japanese eco-testing is more rigorous. A desicator is utilized, and formaldehyde levels are then measured from the liquid. The results are:
      a.  Solid lamination: Average is less than 0.05 mg/L
      b.  Case components: Average is 0.28 mg/L
5)  These emissions are no more than levels occurring in outdoor ambient conditions.
6)  Our cabinetry may contribute to achieving LEED credits for Green building projects: IEQ Credit 4.4.