Sensitive source

Over the past few years, ecological concerns have become an ever-growing influence in our lives. We've moved beyond simple energy conservation to a realization of the global impact of our purchasing decisions and lifestyle.

For many of us, a building or remodeling project is the perfect opportunity to merge aesthetic considerations with social imperatives. In this kitchen and throughout the home architect Matthew Elliott says the owners' long-standing commitment to ecology and social justice informed every aspect of the design and construction.

"I thought I was a pretty well-informed green architect," he says. "But the decision-making process we went through during this job took my understanding to a higher level."

As result, this new kitchen features FSC-certified hardwood floors and formaldehyde-free plywood cabinets, finished in a zero-VOC paint. PVC products were forbidden except for the interior electrical wiring, when no substitute product could be found. Copper pipes, too, were unacceptable because of the geological impact of copper mining.

Beyond simply considering the impact of each product on the immediate surroundings and occupants, an awareness of the factory conditions and manufacturing processes also played a pivotal role. And, from that came the decision to use a brushed nickel finish on the faucets, rather than chrome or brass, because the toxic byproducts of the plating process affect the people working at the factory.

Elliott says each product was evaluated by two criteria. "First, we looked at how the product was made. What were the effects of that process on the people involved and on the home's internal and external environment?"

"We also looked to the future," he says. "What the product will be a hundred years from now is as important as what it is today."

Story by: Kathleen Kinney