What better way to describe how you can renovate your green home than to look at a real world example of a green home renovation project. Homeowners Laura Alderman and Gary Garcia of Santa Cruz, California wanted to retrofit their kitchen with greener materials and more environmentally-conscious appliances. The result is nothing short of stunning.

They hired interior designer Lydia Corser of Eco Interiors and general contractor Rory Howland of Howland Construction to handle the project, both of whom are Build It Green trained and certified. The kitchen had a total area of 250 square feet, so it was a relatively small space to tackle. That’s not to say that the impact was small though!

Because the 1948 California house had seen some natural wear and tear, Laura Alderman and Gary Garcia wanted to get some serious work done that would allow for timelessness and longevity. The house envelope had already been upgraded to address mold and moisture issues and now they wanted a kitchen that was at once new and green.

Among the work done to the tiny kitchen was a reconfiguration of the floorplan to subdivide the adjoining large mudroom. This allowed the kitchen to expand, giving more room and better accessibility. The homeowners wanted to grow old in this house, so the floorplan had to allow for ease of access.

Other green upgrades include new ambient lighting, under-cabinet fluorescent task lighting with over-table light fixtures made from 100% recycled cast aluminum, and a kitchen range hood that exhausts directly outdoors.

The energy-efficient appliances installed go beyond the Energy Star standard, saving the homeowners significant money in the long run for energy costs. Further to this is the high-efficiency water heater, which also significantly reduces energy costs. Even the decor was quite green, as Alderman and Garcia opted for zero-VOC paint for the walls and ceiling, natural linoleum flooring, bamboo cabinetry, cabinets with recycled plastic content, and concrete countertops. Looking to the future, the kitchen was also pre-wired for photovoltaic panels and pre-plumbed for a graywater system. These would further reduce external energy requirements and water needs.

Have you considered a green home renovation project for your kitchen? This real world case study should offer a glimpse into what is possible and demonstrate the relative ease of going green.