CasaSugar

What’s Lurking in Your Countertop? (Granite With Radioactive Radon?)

tdsollog — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:31:29 -0700

What’s Lurking in Your Countertop?
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/garden/24granite.html?em&ex=1217131200...
By KATE MURPHY
Published: July 24, 2008

SHORTLY before Lynn Sugarman of Teaneck, N.J., bought her summer home in Lake George, N.Y., two years ago, a routine inspection revealed it had elevated levels of radon, a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. So she called a radon measurement and mitigation technician to find the source.

“He went from room to room,” said Dr. Sugarman, a pediatrician. But he stopped in his tracks in the kitchen, which had richly grained cream, brown and burgundy granite countertops. His Geiger counter indicated that the granite was emitting radiation at levels 10 times higher than those he had measured elsewhere in the house.

“My first thought was, my pregnant daughter was coming for the weekend,” Dr. Sugarman said. When the technician told her to keep her daughter several feet from the countertops just to be safe, she said, “I had them ripped out that very day,” and sent to the state Department of Health for analysis. The granite, it turned out, contained high levels of uranium, which is not only radioactive but releases radon gas as it decays. “The health risk to me and my family was probably small,” Dr. Sugarman said, “but I felt it was an unnecessary risk.”

As the popularity of granite countertops has grown in the last decade - demand for them has increased tenfold, according to the Marble Institute of America, a trade group representing granite fabricators - so have the types of granite available. For example, one source, Graniteland (graniteland.com) offers more than 900 kinds of granite from 63 countries. And with increased sales volume and variety, there have been more reports of “hot” or potentially hazardous countertops, particularly among the more exotic and striated varieties from Brazil and Namibia.

“It’s not that all granite is dangerous,” said Stanley Liebert, the quality assurance director at CMT Laboratories in Clifton Park, N.Y., who took radiation measurements at Dr. Sugarman’s house. “But I’ve seen a few that might heat up your Cheerios a little.”

Allegations that granite countertops may emit dangerous levels of radon and radiation have been raised periodically over the past decade, mostly by makers and distributors of competing countertop materials. The Marble Institute of America has said such claims are “ludicrous” because although granite is known to contain uranium and other radioactive materials like thorium and potassium, the amounts in countertops are not enough to pose a health threat.

Indeed, health physicists and radiation experts agree that most granite countertops emit radiation and radon at extremely low levels. They say these emissions are insignificant compared with so-called background radiation that is constantly raining down from outer space or seeping up from the earth’s crust, not to mention emanating from manmade sources like X-rays, luminous watches and smoke detectors.

But with increasing regularity in recent months, the Environmental Protection Agency has been receiving calls from radon inspectors as well as from concerned homeowners about granite countertops with radiation measurements several times above background levels. “We’ve been hearing from people all over the country concerned about high readings,” said Lou Witt, a program analyst with the agency’s Indoor Environments Division.

Last month, Suzanne Zick, who lives in Magnolia, Tex., a small town northwest of Houston, called the E.P.A. and her state’s health department to find out what she should do about the salmon-colored granite she had installed in her foyer a year and a half ago. A geology instructor at a community college, she realized belatedly that it could contain radioactive material and had it tested. The technician sent her a report indicating that the granite was emitting low to moderately high levels of both radon and radiation, depending on where along the stone the measurement was taken.

“I don’t really know what the numbers are telling me about my risk,” Ms. Zick said. “I don’t want to tear it out, but I don’t want cancer either.”

The E.P.A. recommends taking action if radon gas levels in the home exceeds 4 picocuries per liter of air (a measure of radioactive emission); about the same risk for cancer as smoking a half a pack of cigarettes per day. In Dr. Sugarman’s kitchen, the readings were 100 picocuries per liter. In her basement, where radon readings are expected to be higher because the gas usually seeps into homes from decaying uranium underground, the readings were 6 picocuries per liter.

The average person is subjected to radiation from natural and manmade sources at an annual level of 360 millirem (a measure of energy absorbed by the body), according to government agencies like the E.P.A. and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The limit of additional exposure set by the commission for people living near nuclear reactors is 100 millirem per year. To put this in perspective, passengers get 3 millirem of cosmic radiation on a flight from New York to Los Angeles.

A “hot” granite countertop like Dr. Sugarman’s might add a fraction of a millirem per hour and that is if you were a few inches from it or touching it the entire time.

Nevertheless, Mr. Witt said, “There is no known safe level of radon or radiation.” Moreover, he said, scientists agree that “any exposure increases your health risk.” A granite countertop that emits an extremely high level of radiation, as a small number of commercially available samples have in recent tests, could conceivably expose body parts that were in close proximity to it for two hours a day to a localized dose of 100 millirem over just a few months.

David J. Brenner, director of the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University in New York, said the cancer risk from granite countertops, even those emitting radiation above background levels, is “on the order of one in a million.” Being struck by lightning is more likely. Nonetheless, Dr. Brenner said, “It makes sense. If you can choose another counter that doesn’t elevate your risk, however slightly, why wouldn’t you?”

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking and is considered especially dangerous to smokers, whose lungs are already compromised. Children and developing fetuses are vulnerable to radiation, which can cause other forms of cancer. Mr. Witt said the E.P.A. is not studying health risks associated with granite countertops because of a “lack of resources.”

The Marble Institute of America plans to develop a testing protocol for granite. “We want to reassure the public that their granite countertops are safe,” Jim Hogan, the group’s president, said earlier this month “We know the vast majority of granites are safe, but there are some new exotic varieties coming in now that we’ve never seen before, and we need to use sound science to evaluate them.”

Research scientists at Rice University in Houston and at the New York State Department of Health are currently conducting studies of granite widely used in kitchen counters. William J. Llope, a professor of physics at Rice, said his preliminary results show that of the 55 samples he has collected from nearby fabricators and wholesalers, all of which emit radiation at higher-than-background levels, a handful have tested at levels 100 times or more above background.

Personal injury lawyers are already advertising on the Web for clients who think they may have been injured by countertops. “I think it will be like the mold litigation a few years back, where some cases were legitimate and a whole lot were not,” said Ernest P. Chiodo, a physician and lawyer in Detroit who specializes in toxic tort law. His kitchen counters are granite, he said, “but I don’t spend much time in the kitchen.”

As for Dr. Sugarman, the contractor of the house she bought in Lake George paid for the removal of her “hot” countertops. She replaced them with another type of granite. “But I had them tested first,” she said.

Where to Find Tests and Testers

TO find a certified technician to determine whether radiation or radon is emanating from a granite countertop, homeowners can contact the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (aarst.org). Testing costs between $100 to $300.

Information on certified technicians and do-it-yourself radon testing kits is available from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Web site at epa.gov/radon, as well as from state or regional indoor air environment offices, which can be found at epa.gov/iaq/whereyoulive.html. Kits test for radon, not radiation, and cost $20 to $30. They are sold at hardware stores and online.

Minor Kitchen redo

Kimpossible — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:15:26 -0700

I've been wanting to redo my kitchen pretty much since we moved in (a little over 3 years ago), other things have taken priority and it's always been put on the back burner. Then I couldn't decide on a color. I had tried something different a turquoise color that I loved but once it was on the wall (we only did a small section) we realized it just wouldn't work in this space. So I went back to my original idea of brown. Then today I found a great cabinet at Pier 1 Imports. It was more than I wanted to spend but I just loved it. I added a small ledge type shelf for my most used spices and installed that. I do hope to replace the countertops soon - hopefully next year but we'll see how it goes.

Before:

After (taken in the daytime, this one shows the color really well):

After (taken in the evening, daughter is doing homework lol, and shows the new cabinet on the side too)

I need suggestion for kitchen and bathroom "completely on the budget" (temporary 'fix')!

nevaeh1978 — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:46:43 -0700

Hi,
We're purchasing our first home (we've put an offer on the bank-approved-full-price and been accepted by the seller but since it's a short sale, we're waiting for the bank to respond).
I know this is way too early, but I would LOVE inputs, suggestions on how to 'reno' or 'refresh' the kitchen and bathroom. We're going to be purchasing all new appliances (they don't come with any working ones), painting, putting new carpet on the floor (since their hardwood is in a real sorry state), mowing the lawn and 'cleaning up' the whole exterior that has looked like a fire-hazard jungle, etc.
In the end, we're going to only have probably $2000 (max) to 'refresh' our kitchen and bathroom.
First priority for me is, the kitchen of course.
I'm thinking of painting the cabinets, and the countertops (has anyone done countertops painting?).
What do you guys think of that idea? Anyone has better idea than that? I'm rather desperate. And it's going to be a few years (or so--since hub and I have to save up to completely reno), so I really want it to be a nice, decent and comfortable place for me to cook. Since I love to cook..like..A LOT.
P.S. I like muted and neutral color usually. My appliance most likely will be white (since hubby sux that way LOL--he doesn't 'get' stainless or black appliance), our current on-the-counter usually black and more black.
Bathroom:
Oh dear pink-tile, we can't escape that, they're actually pretty looking BUT I ..um..don't like pink (and guess if my hub and son like it ). But it'll have to do for now. We may put tiles on the floor or vinyl (thank goodness, the past owner just purchased new toilet, so we don't need to bother with buying a new one)
Any color scheme or suggestions to spruce up this sad state of bathroom, to at least neutralize the bathroom so it's not so girly?
Pics-time:

Above is our kitchen, and no, that dishwasher ain't staying.
Here's the wonderful pink tiles! (Bathroom picture):

Thanks for your suggestions, gals (and boys)! I really truly appreciate it.

"New" Kitchen

hihowareya — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:12:01 -0700

And here's what our kitchen looks like now!!

The total cost of my redo was about $20. I spent ~$10 on a 5 gallon bucket of joint compound, and then bought two gallon cans of "oops" paint for $5 each at Home Depot. I already had the tools on hand.

The "backsplash" was made from these old vinyl composite tiles that we had stacked in our basement for about 20 years. They were excess from some carpentry job my uncle did for a school, and would have otherwise been thrown out. I used our old grout from when we first put our tiles down in the house 20 years ago, and it seemed to work out alright. Oh and I used old flooring adhesive to glue the tiles to the wall. That was kinda annoying since I had to stand a while and press the tiles on until they stuck well enough to dry on their own, but oh well. Funny that a few days later after I stopped by the hazardous waste paint depot there was a giant tubler of contact cement there that could have really helped me out. Oh well. I picked it up anyway for future projects, along with a ton of other paint goodies. I love free stuff!!

We couldn't afford any elaborate renovations at this time, such as new appliances or countertop and such, but perhaps in the future.

Oh, the lighting was a great deal too. I bought these cheapo $5 light kits at Lowes, and they had a dated and cheesy square frosted glass covering, and then I replaced them with these $9 sorta splotchy more modern glass pieces and I think they really made them look awesome (and more pricey!) I was very happy with that. We were going to do the track lighting thing, but our lighting budget was unfortunately only $100. I ended up making it basically half that (~$60), so huzzah. I'm thinking of having a pendant light above the sink and possibly one or two above our new island/peninsula (though the electrical wiring for lighting above the island will be difficult since it boarders the wall our chimney is enclosed in). The new lights use two 60 watt bulbs each and it's so lovely and bright. Having a dimmer would be nice, but there is difficulty with there being two separate switches for controlling these lights in two different areas. It can be done, but I'd need more special equipment than what I could just easily pick out at some hardware store, and also more special electrical tools that I just don't have so it'd be something for a pro to do. But it's not completely necessary, just something to possibly think about at some point in the future.

Um, what else... Yeah, unfortunately the gold and oak of our cabinetry had to stay, since my mom likes it and since new hardware would add up quickly (there's 33 handles, and our hinges are exposed so those would have to be replaced if we wanted anything to coordinate, and there's then another 22 hinges I believe). Our cabinets are actually very good quality ones: they've help up superbly since the house was built in 1988, and they still make almost the exact same style today. And actually, that sorta made our island creation a bit easier, since the cabinets we used were able to basically match almost identically.

Ah, yes, the island. That was put in so we could make the kitchen more accessible for my mom, who uses a wheelchair. The island is lower so she can reach the sink. The sink is a bar sink and we picked out basically the cheapest sink and faucets out there that would suit our needs, and that total came out to be less than $100. The sink is 15" by 5" deep, so it's tiny but it serves its purpose. The countertop to this island is a butcher block we custom ordered from Home Depot for $227 (that's including tax) and measures 42" x 25." We bought two wall unfinished oak wall cabinets, placed them back to back, then I stained them with the same stain as our original cabinets so they'd match (my mom wanted matching). The cabinets were each $68. So, for the materials for this island, ($100 countertop, $100 sink/faucet, $136 cabinets), that's $336 total, and then add in extra plumbing supplies and whatnot and it makes it less than $400. Oh, there's also an electrical outlet on it, so my mom can plug in her teapot to boil water and make her tea, or plug in her bread maker and make bread and such. It's awesome how something so little can improve someone's independence like ten fold.

So, for this kitchen makeover, it cost: $60 lighting, $20 walls, $400 island, for a total of $480. Less than $500. Now, that's wicked expensive for us, but the main expense was the island, but even that, with it being custom made and needing to be wheelchair accessible and also functional for my moms limited movement, that was a good investment. Though we were able to get a grant actually to pay for the island so that was nice. :-)

I was kinda bummed that my backsplash ended up making the kitchen look more dated (it looks rather 60'ish or something, though I like the 60's). But oh well. It was completely free (made from stuff we had on hand) and it can be looked at as being a one of a kind art installation. :-)

Oh, and don't mind our fridge. It's packed with stuff, but I like it that way for now. :-P

View Slideshow ›

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Me! Me! Me! America's Narcissism Epidemic

lilkimbo — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:34:35 -0700

I recently stumbled across a book entitled Me! Me! Me! American's Narcissism Epidemic by Jean M. Twenge and W. Keith Campbell. I've just begun reading it and it's very interesting, so I have been reading up a little more on it. I thought I'd post this passage from the introduction that I found on MSNBC.com.

We didn't have to look very hard to find it. It was everywhere.

On a reality TV show, a girl planning her sixteenth birthday party wants a major road blocked off so a marching band can precede her grand entrance on a red carpet. A book called “My Beautiful Mommy” explains plastic surgery to young children whose mothers are going under the knife for the trendy “Mommy Makeover.” It is now possible to hire fake paparazzi to follow you around snapping your photograph when you go out at night - you can even take home a faux celebrity magazine cover featuring the pictures.

A popular song declares, with no apparent sarcasm, "I believe that the world should revolve around me!" People buy expensive homes with loans far beyond their ability to pay - or at least they did until the mortgage market collapsed as a result. Babies wear bibs embroidered with "Supermodel" or "Chick Magnet" and suck on "Bling" pacifiers while their parents read modernized nursery rhymes from This Little Piggy Went to Prada. People strive to create a "personal brand" (also called "self-branding"), packaging themselves like a product to be sold. Ads for financial services proclaim that retirement helps you return to childhood and pursue your dreams. High school students pummel classmates and then seek attention for their violence by posting YouTube videos of the beatings.

Although these seem like a random collection of current trends, all are rooted in a single underlying shift in the American psychology: the relentless rise of narcissism in our culture. Not only are there more narcissists than ever, but non-narcissistic people are seduced by the increasing emphasis on material wealth, physical appearance, celebrity worship, and attention seeking. Standards have shifted, sucking otherwise humble people into the vortex of granite countertops, tricked-out MySpace pages, and plastic surgery. A popular dance track repeats the words "money, success, fame, glamour" over and over, declaring that all other values have "either been discredited or destroyed."

The United States is currently suffering from an epidemic of narcissism. Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines an epidemic as an affliction "affecting ... a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population," and narcissism more than fits the bill. In data from 37,000 college students, narcissistic personality traits rose just as fast as obesity from the 1980s to the present, with the shift especially pronounced for women.

The rise in narcissism is accelerating, with scores rising faster in the 2000s than in previous decades. By 2006, 1 out of 4 college students agreed with the majority of the items on a standard measure of narcissistic traits. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), the more severe, clinically diagnosed version of the trait, is also far more common than once thought. Nearly 1 out of 10 of Americans in their twenties, and 1 out of 16 of those of all ages, has experienced the symptoms of NPD. Even these shocking numbers are just the tip of the iceberg; lurking underneath is the narcissistic culture that has drawn in many more. The narcissism epidemic has spread to the culture as a whole, affecting both narcissistic and less self-centered people.

Like a disease, narcissism is caused by certain factors, spreads through particular channels, appears as various symptoms, and might be halted by preventive measures and cures. Narcissism is a psychocultural affliction rather than a physical disease, but the model fits remarkably well. We have structured the book according to this model, explaining the epidemic's diagnosis, root causes, symptoms, and prognosis.

Like the obesity epidemic, the narcissism epidemic has not affected everyone in the same way. More people are obese, just as more people are narcissistic, but there are still those who exercise and eat right, and still those who are humble and caring. Even the less self-absorbed have witnessed narcissistic behavior on TV, online, or in real-life interactions with friends, family, or coworkers. The mortgage meltdown that led to the financial crisis of 2008 was caused, in part, by the narcissistic overconfidence of homebuyers who claimed they could afford houses too expensive for them and greedy lenders who were willing to take big risks with other people's money. In one way or another, the narcissism epidemic has touched every American.

In the last few years, narcissism has become a popular buzzword, used to explain the behavior of everyone from hooker-obsessed former New York governor Eliot Spitzer to famous-for-being-famous Paris Hilton. Others have diagnosed themselves: former presidential candidate John Edwards explained his extramarital affair by stating, "In the course of several campaigns, I started to believe that I was special and became increasingly egocentric and narcissistic." As the New York Times noted, narcissism "has become the go-to diagnosis by columnists, bloggers, and television psychologists. We love to label the offensive behavior of others to separate them from us. 'Narcissist' is among our current favorites."

Thoughts? Reactions? Have any of your noticed a marked rise in narcissism in the people you seem to encounter? I certainly have! People seem to feel so entitled, like they are so special that they are deserving of things that they did not earn. (I'm talking about extra things, like Coach handbags and Prada shoes, not essential things like basic clothing and shelter.) And, no offense to anyone who uses it regularly, but I continue to be astounded by the popularity of Twitter. How self-absorbed are people that they actually believe that others are so deeply interested in their daily lives! (I'm referring to those who tweet about every little detail. Seriously? You think people are that interested?) Anyway, let me know what you all think. And, if anyone else is interested in reading the book, let me know so we can set up a post either here or elsewhere in Sugarland to discuss!

Britney Spears trashed rented mansion

justingirl1989 — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:21:25 -0700

Britney Spears rented a mansion in Malibu starting in September of last year for $35,000 a month, and although she didn’t live in it she still left a ton of damage, according to sources quoted in the National Enquirer. The marble floors were scratched, countertops in the kitchen were damaged, and pretty much all the furniture was ruined, but what’s worse is that she left cigarettes, wine bottles and dog poo scattered around the house:

“The house was left a wreck,” revealed the insider. “Cigarette burns and cigarette butts were everywhere - and empty bottles of wine were strewed about the place.

“Most of the furniture was ruined with stains, tears or nicks. Other items, like an expensive vase in the kitchen and patio furniture were broken. The granite kitchen countertops were damaged as well. Rotting food was left in the refrigerator,” said the insider. “Spilled wine soiled the carpets and floors.”

The outside landscaping wasn’t kept up, either, and the pool turned green from lack of attention, added the insider.

“No one picked up after Britney’s dogs, and many ‘presents’ of dog poop were left behind for the owners.”

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, May 12, 2008]

The Enquirer notes that Britney only used the mansion as a party house and that after she was hospitalized in January she didn’t return there. Rent is paid until March and she’s waiting to hear how much she owes for the damages.

Maybe Sam Lutfi and his friends did a lot of damage to the house too, since Britney was hanging out with him at that time. She is said to not have a maid but maybe she could have hired a service to clean up the house and try to reduce some of the damages before she handed over to the owners. Given all the issues she was having at the time, it surely wasn’t on the top of her priority list.

celeb*tchy.com

Greening Your Home - the Basics Part 2: Kitchen

tdamji — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 03:34:39 -0700

Although one can certainly turn their not-so-green kitchen into an eco-friendly one via renovation, that is not always an option for the majority of people. So, what easy, inexpensive or free things can you do to make your kitchen more eco-friendly? Here's my short-list of what you can do to immediately see a difference and make a change:

1) Use biodegradable or compost-able kitchen bags - see the example of one of the many brands out there, in the list at the bottom.

2) Compost -
from Gaiam:
What is composting?
Composting is a natural process by which microorganisms break down kitchen and yard waste into humus - a rich, dark material that enriches soil, boosts fertility and retards soil erosion.

What materials can be composted?
Compost ingredients generally fall under one of two categories: "browns" or "greens".
Brown (dry) ingredients include: dried leaves, dry grass, straw, sawdust, cold wood ashes, wood chips, all kinds of tissue paper, shredded newspaper, shredded paper cartons, and shredded egg cartons (the paper kind only).
Green (wet) ingredients include: fruit peels, vegetable peels, coffee grinds and filters, tea bags, egg shells, peanut shells, garden waste, plant trimmings, fresh grass cuttings, and table waste.
Some materials should not be composted. These include: bones, meat, fish, dairy products, sauces, oils, fats, pet waste, diseased plants, seeding weeds, wet grass, and inorganic materials.
It is recommended to have a 50/50 balance of green and brown materials. Green materials are rich in nitrogen and brown materials are rich in carbon. Bacteria thrive in the particular ratio of carbon to nitrogen that is provided by this mix of green and brown materials. This allows for efficient composting.

Here are some Faqs about composting, from Gaiam.

Composting isn't always an option for everyone. For instance, I can compost - but what do I do with the composted mess afterwards? This city doesn't have a compost pick-up like some other do, I don't have a garden or any plants . . . so the only place I have been able to practice this is when i lived in a house. Does any one compost? Any ideas on how I can do so in an apartment? I haven't come across any information about that. I am vegan so almost everything I eat can be composted, so it sucks even more to not be able to do so.

CasaSugar defines composting nicely here

3) Use a cloth instead of a paper towel to wipe counters and clean dishes - Here are a few options: Mabu Cloth , Twist Euro Cloth

4) Install a water-filter - As easy as screwing on a filter to the underside of the tap to installing a larger filter that is less noticeable under your sink, there are a myriad of options.

Gaiam's info:
What contaminants are in your drinking water?
This varies by location. Many water supplies contain contaminants such as chlorine, herbicides, pesticides and other VOCs, lead, trihalomethanes, mercury, MTBE, bacteria and biological contaminants such as giardia and cryptosporidium.
How does one choose a water filter?
The first step is to find out what contaminants are in your water supply. Your local water company should be able to supply this information. If not, water test kits are available. Once you know what is in your water, simply choose a filter that removes the contaminants.

5) Grow Herbs on Your Windowsill Fresh herbs are not only tastier, they also give off a lovely natural scent (because they are natural?!) and you can be certain about where the herbs you use in your cooking have come from: your very own kitchen, how much more local can you get? CasaSugar posted about a few herbs that you can plant, super-easily. I can't find the link at present, but she mentioned growing Oregano, Basil and other herbs most-commonly used in the kitchen. I also grow Rosemary. Rosemary is so fragrant and so delicious in many dishes... easy to grow, too!

6) Use eco-friendly cleaning products - Try an organic, non-toxic kitchen bar soap to scrub your hands before and after handling food. Regular soaps can have chemicals that are unhealthy for the environment. Organic soaps with essential oils are nourishing to the skin, gentle on the planet and last longer than liquid soaps. Use eco-friendly dishwashing soap. Here a few green cleaning links from TeamSugar:
- http://teamsugar.com/group/422515/blog/498860
- http://teamsugar.com/node/523719
- http://fitsugar.com/416630
- http://fitsugar.com/516506

7) Use smaller appliances like counter-top convection ovens rather than the entire built-in oven when possible - counter-top convection ovens can easily be found in stores, or save that, Amazon has hundreds of them in a wide range of prices

8 ) Green your meals - Buy organic, local, or grow your own produce! Reduce the amount of packaging used to encase your food. Use cloth bags when you do purchase food.

9) Use Re-useable containers - This is an especially easy one. Its so easy to find glass, stainless steel or other containers to put your leftovers or packed food in. See my list for a few examples.

A few inexpensive eco-friendly kitchen products:

Extras:

Care2.com had a lot to say about making your kitchen energy-efficient:

A recent article in the New York Times reports on a major new study that details the planet's energy scenario. "Because the world's population is growing and living standards are rising, energy consumption globally is expected to rise by over 50 percent over the next 25 years," it notes, and goes on to explain that finding supplies to match that growth is going to be increasingly difficult. It seems prudent to start trimming our energy needs wherever we can. Household appliances account for about 20 percent of a household's energy consumption, so why not start reducing energy use in the kitchen--and get cool while you're at it?

1. Use the proper size pot for the burner or element. A 6" pan on an 8" burner will waste over 40% of the heat produced by the burner.
2. When using an electric range, turn off the burner before the cooking is finished. The burner will retain enough heat to continue cooking for a short while.
3. Keep stovetop burners and reflectors clean - they will reflect the heat better and save a surprising amount of energy.
4. Cover pots when cooking. Food cooks faster and less heat escapes.
5. When boiling something, turn down the heat once it reaches a boil-it takes less heat to maintain a boil than reaching it.
6. Don’t boil more water than you will be using.
7. If you use boiled water frequently, invest in an electric kettle.
8. Minimize preheating--unless you're baking breads or pastries you may not need to preheat the oven at all. A good rule of thumb is that any food that takes more than 60 minutes to bake can be started in a cold oven.
9. Glass or ceramic pans in the oven retain heat well enough that you can turn down the temperature about 25 degreesF.
10. In a conventional oven, food cooks quicker on the top rack.
11. Check the seal on your oven door to make sure it is working properly.
12. Full-size ovens are not very efficient when cooking small quantities of food. When cooking small- to medium-sized meals, it generally pays to use smaller toaster ovens.
13. Rearrange oven shelves before you turn the oven on. Doing it after the oven is hot not only wastes heat, but is an easy way to burn yourself.
14. Don't lay foil on oven racks to prevent messes. The oven works more quickly and efficiently when air can circulate freely.
15. Try not to open the oven and peek when baking.
16. Pressure cookers reduce cooking time.
17. Thaw foods completely before cooking (thawing in the refrigerator is best because it helps the efficiency of the refrigerator).
18. Cut food into smaller pieces for quicker cooking.
19. Try a solar cooker!
20. Slow cooking in a Crock Pot uses much less energy than simmering on a stove, and emits much less heat.

Jennifer Roberts has a book called Good Green Kitchens -

*Greening your dining room and food serving will be a separate post.

Kitchen Remodel

keanusmom — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:40:42 -0700

We gutted our ugly horrid kitchen and installed awesome IKEA cabinets, travertine flooring, granite countertops and all new stainless steel appliances. I think our modern pendant lighting puts the icing on the cake! I love my new gourmet kitchen and I owe it all to my husband who installed everything with the exception of the granite countertops which we had professionally installed.

View Slideshow ›

San Francisco Big Cement Box: Before and After Our Loft Kitchen and Bath Remodel

halsig — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:54:01 -0700

We've worked for about 5 months on our loft remodel. We started with a big empty cement box, and we are in the process of transforming it into exactly what we want. We started with a blank canvas, and designed it all ourselves. I love our new place, and I am glad to share it with you all!Kitchen Before: As you can see, it was a drab kitchen with a basic electric stove, painted white and with cold galvanized steel shelves.Here is another one of the kitchen 'before' pictures. The partition is really cool - we are still trying to figure out where else to put it.This is the area next to the sink. The Bulthaup open shelves are fantastic.This is a picture of our backsplash. We designed and built it ourselves.This is a lengthwise picture of our Gaggenau convection oven and Dacor convection microwave. Not a single kernel left unpoppedThis is a picture of our Dacor fridge and appliance garage. It serves as a pantry too!There is lighting in each of the Bulthaup shelving units for the displays of glass.This is a picture with just the display lights onOpposite the Dacor fridge is the sink. We placed a round glass table in the middle to bring the room together. We added stainless countertops, painted the walls a warm greige color and added in beautiful swiss pear cabinetry from Bulthaup.The Bathroom before is pretty basic - we call it a 'gas station' bathroomAfter:The bath door is open, and light is off.After:From outside, there is privacy, yet still an open airy feeling with the translucent door panelAfter:Here is a picture inside the bathroom, with the door closed when the halogen IKEA lights are on.This is a picture of our Thassos White Marble vanity - it actually sparkles just like snow in the sun.We found this a-mazing Boffi Makro Cherry Red Glass bath tub. It is a full 6 feet long - and inset cubbies rock.We put in a partition between the toilet and the rest of the bathroom. It is airy and open with a modern feel.The Thassos White Marble Floor matches the Vanity. The shelf is from CB2.