[Greenbuilding] Cabinetry

[Amy Bauman]

Hi again -

As with many of the resource issues, there are two ends to the material
stream: input and output.  Alan makes a few excellent points on the design
side, which I'd like to expand.  Here is the greenGoat checklist for kitchen
elements:

1) Movable, maybe.  Think through the functions of your kitchen: prep
surface, plate/pot storage, food storage, rinsing/washing, and cooking.
Maybe presentation, depending on space ... maybe that's done in another
room.

The functions tied to a utility are fairly stationary, unless you want to
hook your cooktop up to a small propane tank.  Then we can get into fuel
sources and relative merits of those. I am putting in a kitchen now where
I've maximized the use of rolling storage/surface allowing me to move things
out of the way for parties, for example.  Or roll together surfaces for
certain projects.

In most things - hard coding is risky.  Choose shelf systems that can be
adjusted, cabinet faces that can be easily removed for cleaning ... always
build in as many options as you can for a new color scheme (see 6).

I went to a fascinating workshop at Build Boston that explored the explosion
of the 'work triangle' (of 'frig, stove, sink) to make way for work stations
and the expanding role of other family members in prep.  This has made
islands very popular.  Cool theories here, as the kitchen moves away from a
hidden function (turn of the century ... food came in by dumb waiter) to
more of theater function (more open floor plan, where kitchen flows into
dining room / living room).

The point here is that if the products can be repurposed/moved, they're less
likely to be changed / wasted.  This goes for any room in the house, but
kitchens and bathrooms are the most frequently remodeled.

2) Durable.  The additional cost spent on durable materials will pay you
back.  We have a slant on this, as we tend to see particle board cabinets
NOT survive deconstruction, whereas solid wood and plywood cabinets do.
Same goes for other materials.

3) Deconstruction effort.  Cabinets are usually screwed in place, which
makes it easy for them to be removed as a whole unit.   I rarely see glue
added to the mix, but that'd make recovery highly improbably.  We keep the
stone countertops with their sinks and cooktops, so that the recipient isn't
left with custom cuts that are mismatched with ... nothing.

4) Glues bad.  I guess some laminates are good, but in general, composite
materials are not as recoverable nor as saleable as 'whole' materials.

5) LCA - I won't get into the relative merits of organics over plastics, but
... it's there.  Your daughter will be lucky enough just to find something
she likes.  If she wants to go nuts with externality measurements, have her
get in touch!

6) Choose things that are color neutral, adding strong colors where they can
be changed.  For example - dark green granite countertops are pretty risky.
Cabinets can be painted (depending on surface).

Again ... regards,

Amy B.
greenGoat
www.greengoat.org