The kitchen is the most communal, yet individualized, room of the home. Whether for a five-star chef, a family of six, or someone whose idea of a home-cooked meal takes a few minutes in a microwave, a kitchen is not just about function. The center of traffic in the home and the room designed to bring family and friends together has the potential to create an ecofriendly, efficient, and healthy environment.

A green kitchen renovation is a major project. Not only does the kitchen contain some of the largest installations, such as cabinetry, countertops, and appliances, it is also a physically predominant room of the home.

“Start from what the existing space is,” advises Kate Dayton, principal of Green Courage in New Paltz, “to get its maximum efficiency in storage and workability.” Dayton, who calls herself a “practical” designer, warns that the kitchen is complex. “Figure out all nuances for what works for that family, couple, etc.,” she suggests. It can help by first answering questions such as What purpose does your kitchen serve you? and What will work well as far as task space and room to move around?

Dayton says that indoor air quality is a key focus in green kitchen renovations.

If the saying “you are what you eat” holds true, then it can’t possibly be healthy for food to be stored in cabinets constructed with formaldehyde, glues, and other toxins. Dayton says there are many healthy and environmentally sound materials and finishes on the market, this has not always been the case.

Europe and California have been more adept at using ecofriendly materials and manufacturing processes in the past, points out Ana Sternberg, CEO and owner of NYLoft. In the past two and a half years, NYLoft has created a line of kitchen cabinetry called Bazzeo, whose materials meet USGBC and LEED standards. However, Bazzeo is just one of several companies that are accessible and ready to meet the desires of the environmentally conscious.

Thankfully, there are responsibly-made cabinetry options that are either manufactured or have main distribution centers on the East Coast, specifically in New York. Bazzeo is one example that offers a contemporary design and utilizes veneers made of FSC-certified wood, water-based lacquers, and manufactures from a “no-waste” factory. Other East Coast options for green kitchen cabinetry are Rutt and Irpinia, respectively based out of Pennsylvania and Ontario.

Installing cabinets is no minor task; neither is removing and properly disposing of the waste of old ones. The environmentally conscious consumer should first determine if the existing cabinets need to be replaced at all. For well-made and maintained cabinets, Dayton suggests AFM Safecoat Safe Seal, a zero-VOC finish that seals toxins into wood and other surfaces. “If they have great cabinets already they can paint over them,” Dayton also adds, who prefers only zero-VOC options such as Mythic Paint.

Another major facet of an ecofriendly kitchen overhaul is choice of flooring. Shane Mulstay, owner of Creative Surfaces Counter Top and Flooring Distributors in Kingston, offers engineered flooring. Mulstay says this is a greener choice, as these multiple wood floors use less actual wood and therefore are gentler on the forest, particularly exotic trees.

The Manhattan Center for Kitchen and Bath also offers flooring options derived from a number of sustainable and recycled materials. John Gomez, MCKB designer, says that cork or bamboo flooring is particularly easy on the environment because of its ability to regenerate very quickly.

“Fifteeen years ago I don’t think they had coined the term ‘green design,’” says Gomez, who has noticed a very significant change in the demand for green materials. “Now they expect it to be green.” This designer of over 20 years also suggests using concrete in a kitchen renovation. “Because it is made from sand, it is readily available,” he says, adding that it is also a material that can be recycled and reused when removed.

Laminated concrete can also serve as a beautiful healthy kitchen countertop, but is certainly not the most surprising of choices. Alkemi, distributed by Green Courage and locations in Manhattan, transforms recycled metal shavings from the aerospace industry to produce countertops containing 90 percent post industrial recycled content. Brooklyn-based Ice Stone is widely recognized for its recycled glass and concrete countertops, as well as Paper Stone, a company that creates durable, nonporous, formaldehyde-free surfaces from 100-percent recycled cardboard and office paper.

Energy efficiency is another priority of the green kitchen. LED lights, whose quality is now comparable to halogen lights, Dayton says, are ideal for downlights and lighting of task space. Dayton also advises seeking appliances that will have the “least energy suck.” The greenest choices include induction stove tops, dishwashers with heat controls, and refrigerators, such as New York House’s IGDA 2009 winner, Liebherr, that uses little energy and maximize interior space.

Gomez also suggests choosing Energy Star rated appliances, which is not just good news for the environment but also for the wallet. According to energystar.gov, as of February 12, 2010 New York State launched a program to encourage and help residents to purchase Energy Star appliances with the incentive of a monetary rebate. The program, with a total funding of $18,700,000, applies to the purchase of refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, and high-efficiency appliance packages.

Each kitchen renovation is specific to the people and uses it is designed for. For the eco-conscious, health, efficiency and sustainability are priorities that should never be overlooked. But as Dayton insists, no beauty or luxury is ever spared. She points out that there is no difference between the most well-designed kitchen and a green kitchen: they are one in the same. And with a little research, you will find they are easily accessible.