Five Energy-Efficient Kitchen Remodeling Design Consultant Ideas

Getting ready to renovate your kitchen is a significant undertaking. You need to budget your money and space while the work is done. One thing most people consider is how to cut costs while delivering on quality. We asked our Kitchen remodeling design consultants where people prefer to cut costs. The answer was not very surprising. Many people do not mind spending more upfront if it leads to long-term savings. Here we give you five of the top ways people cut long-term costs with an energy-efficient kitchen. 

Energy-efficient appliances

In the early kitchen design stages, you choose your appliances. So before the first hammer swing, appliances have to be selected. One way to lower costs and reduce energy consumption is to choose energy-efficient appliances. 

• Stove: Induction cooking is more energy-efficient than other methods, but it is also faster and keeps the kitchen cooler. 
• Refrigerator: An Energy Star refrigerator not only saves money but is often eligible for rebates and tax credits. What better way to save the planet while saving your pocketbook?
• Dishwasher: Again, look for Energy Star dishwashers, especially Tier II recognition by the Consortium of Energy Efficiency. These can save on water and electricity and sometimes are also eligible for rebates!
• Oven: Advantium speed cooking ovens use both convection and microwave technology to cook food quickly and without loss of quality.

Energy-saving lighting and windows

The average household can dedicate up to fifteen percent of home energy use to lighting. With the creative use of lights, windows, and even skylights, you can sharply reduce artificial lighting in your kitchen. A skilled renovation design consultant can help you decide where to place windows for maximum use of natural light. Next, remember to select double pane windows with a high U-factor, solar heat gain, visible transmittance, and low air leakage for the most savings.
After your windows are selected, it is time to look at artificial lighting. Switching to LED lights, which emit less heat than older, more inefficient light helps the typical home save about $1,000 over ten years.

Upgrade plumbing and electrical to cut energy bills

When remodeling a kitchen, you will likely be opening up walls with access to a substantial amount of your home’s plumbing and electrical. Plumbing and electrical are essential when considering small space remodeling ideas. Often, the pipes and wires are located centrally. What better time to also consider upgrading pipes and wires to newer, more efficient systems? Insulating pipes to retain temperature and possibly even a modern repiping may be an idea.
As for your electrical, installing dimmer switches can reduce energy use for those times when you only need a little light. You can fix wiring and breakers to ensure you are using optimal amperage fuses and breakers, and reducing ‘voltage drip’ can save you substantially. With a new energy-efficient kitchen, you will be in a position to lessen the overall output needed for your home.

Insulated flooring to reduce heat costs

Flooring is an often overlooked area of reducing energy expenses. A cold floor means a cold home. Installing an energy-efficient floor, whether insulation, vent sealing, or even a low energy heated floor, you can reduce costly HVAC energy with more efficient floor solutions. This will maintain your home’s temperature.
What works best for your home can vary greatly depending on your region and type of foundation. It is best to speak to your Kitchen Renovation Consultant or whole home Remodeling Design Consultant before deciding what will work best for your home.

Hire a Renovation Design Consultant

You may be thinking to yourself, “This sounds like many decisions to make!” You would be right. That’s why at Home DNB, we work with quality design consultants for your home no matter where you live. We have a team of fair, licensed, and vetted home design consultants and installers who know your local needs and can deliver in a cost-effective and quality manner. If you are not sure where to begin with your kitchen remodeling and design, reach out to us today and we will help get you started on your journey!