Consider the following points when thinking about more sustainable options:

• Is the source material recycled? Or even better, is it re-used? When it is at the end of its usefulness, can it be recycle or reused?
• If the countertop is not salvaged, what sorts of processes go into the production of the material? Are there great amounts of energy and resources required to create the product?
• Is the raw material a renewable resource? Trees are well noted as an area of the environment facing depletion, but it is important to keep in mind that if forests are properly managed, they provide a renewable raw material requiring minimal processing to be useful. On the other hand, metals, stones, and plastics often require large mining operations and heavy chemical processes which create substantial amounts of pollution.
• How long will the countertop serve its function and maintain its appeal? Is this a material that will become dated or start to deteriorate in a few years, necessitating premature replacement? Here’s where successful timeless design selections will do more than just provide a great look, but serve as a way to give your home longevity and prevent needless waste in the future.
• Where do the materials originate? Does that heavy granite slab you have fallen in love with need to be imported from a far off place? Long distance transportation requires great amounts of fossil fuel and creates substantial amounts of pollution. Consider using choices that are available locally to avoid this often under-considered part of the equation.
• Will the process of installing your countertop create dust and chemical off-gassing? If so, this will pose a health hazard to your family and pets. Some surfaces require epoxy, mastic, or sanding in order to be installed. Consider in advance, what sort of installation your surface will require. If a countertop can be fastened down mechanically, then it is more likely that it will be easier to remove, service, or reuse later in the life of the home.

These are some of the big questions that homeowners need to ask themselves before deciding which material is right for their home and the environment. Obviously, factors such as functionality, cost, and aesthetics are also important – so there will be tradeoffs when making your decision. Thankfully, there are increasingly more new materials available to home owners which provide more environmentally sound options. A good surface will also be durable and look great. Consider materials such as slab made with recycled glass or composite materials, salvaged or new wood, recycled stainless steel or aluminum, locally sourced concrete made from recycled aggregate, or even paper based products which are now durable enough for many areas of the home. With a bit of knowledge to guide you, asking the right questions will ensure that your choices are more environmentally sound.

Jamieson Simpson is a designer at Harrell Remodeling.

Universal design refers to accessibility for all ages and abilities. For Heldebrandt’s home, that meant adding grab bars and higher toilets in the bathroom and widening the downstairs doorways and hallways. These changes dovetailed nicely with Heldebrandt’s goal of making the home’s entrance feel more open; she used to refer to it as “the bat cave.” The ceilings were raised from seven to eight feet to open the house up even more.

Increasing accessibility also meant turning the downstairs half-bath into a full bath with a curbless shower that can accommodate a wheelchair, but also has a bench.

Designer Beth Liebbrandt of Harrell Remodeling enjoyed rising to the challenge of accommodating the home for elderly visitors without making it look like a hospital. “I like that it’s accessible without looking accessible,” she says.

The home maintains its simple, Asian style and feels much more bright and open, Liebbrandt says.

In addition to universal design, Heldebrandt felt it was important to use green building materials in every possible aspect of the remodel, which came on the heels of an environmental disaster for the house. A bathroom remodel on the second floor went horribly awry, leaking water throughout the floor and walls and causing pervasive mold contamination. The floors and ceilings had to be stripped to the frame as part of the cleanup.

Though it was a nightmare for the family – which includes three kids who are now in college – opening up the ceilings and subfloors made some aspects of the job easier for Harrell, Leibbrandt says, because it eliminated mid-job surprises.

Heldebrandt’s kitchen and dining room feature cabinets made of renewable bamboo and countertops made of crushed concrete and recycled paper. the cabinet fronts feature opaque windows made of resin that can be infused with bamboo accents, leaves or other designs. This same material is used in the bathroom door to let in some natural light.

She had planned to use bamboo for her floors, too, until she saw something called Amtico in a showroom. It’s a vinyl-type floor covering that can look like wood or tile and uses non-toxic adhesives that don’t smell, she says.

The home’s insulation is now cellulose instead of fiberglass. The wood-burning fireplace has been replaced with a gas one that can heat 1,000 square feet of the house. And the decorative tiles in front of the fireplace and in the bathroom are made from recycled glass. The walls, which were all repainted in mellow, earthy tones, are covered in low-VOC paint from Kelly Moore.

Heldebrandt was also diligent about reusing or giving away the old appliances and cabinets and making sure toxic materials were disposed of properly.

This article was written by Kathy Schrenk and originally appeared in the Palo Alto Weekly newspaper, Home and Garden Design insert in the September 2007 issue.

Longevity of an investment in remodeling occurs when:

Your remodel looks so beautiful and timeless you do not have to think about remodeling again for decades or more. Great functional and aesthetic design of space achieves just that. I’ve seen 30- to 40-year-old homes with interiors that only required updating the appliances because the space was designed right the first time, using techniques, products and installation that last.

Your remodel uses smart, quality precuts. There are some new products out that have been around long enough to be tested—such as Silestone for countertops, Amtico and Bamboo flooring and wireless solar exterior lighting—which do not cost more than other commonly used choices (granite counters, oak flooring and low voltage exterior lighting, for example). In fact, they can even save you money and look beautiful too.

Your remodel requires little maintenance, which is one of the wonderful benefits of the above-mentioned green products. Silestone features the same advantages of granite and offers a wide selection of color choices. Amtico is often used in hospitals and elevators because it is so durable. And pre-finished Bamboo flooring is much easier to keep looking good than older oak floors that require buffing and waxing.

So don’t think of green choices and decisions as burdensome, or as one more nagging thing you have to do, like flossing. Rather, think of green choices as making your life easier both over the long haul and on a day-to-day basis.

Iris Harrell, is owner and president of Harrell Remodeling, Inc.