Kitchen & Bath Business - September 2017 - 10

Trends

Constructed out of solid
brass, the Kirsi Collection from
NEWPORT BRASS meets WaterSense and CALGreen standards
and has 28 finishes available,
including PVD options.

The Tru-Universal Dimmer,
part of the Radiant Collection by LEGRAND, allows
homeowners to easily dim
lights and reduce their annual
energy consumption by up to
36 percent. The dimmer also
features a white LED light for
easy location in the dark.

Designing a Better World

GROWING DEMAND

When considering a sustainable product or design, consumers are more often motivated by the
amount of money they will save. According to
Energy Star, switching to a certified refrigerator
can save more than $270 over five years, and using
a certified dishwasher can save up to 5,000 gallons
of water per year.
"As kitchen appliances represent major investments, consumers want to ensure they are purchasing a product that will last for years and years,
while also having less of an impact on the environment and saving on utility bills," said Christine
Ackerson, head of sustainability and corporate
social responsibility for LG Electronics USA.
Today, many manufacturers are on board with
sustainability and are creating products with these
benefits to meet the demand. However, consumers still appreciate the aesthetic features of appliances over their eco-friendliness.
"For the most part when you are designing a
kitchen, the selection of products is narrowed by
style, type and size first before sustainable features
come into play," said Melissa Haber, director of
sales and marketing for EuroChef.
She suggests that fortunately the market is going toward a point where sustainable design is
a given and high efficiency is essential. Smaller
spaces - a growing trend as the population expands - have spurred on the movement.

The uptick in sustainable trends
suggests a promising future

HILE A DESIGNER MIGHT
NOT BE INSPECTING

or
re-growing forests, our
industry professionals
are still a part of the
movement to lessen
human impact on the planet. Clients are gradually
becoming aware of their actions and how simple
changes in their home can both save them money
and take small steps toward a greener future. Designers educated on sustainability can inspire this.
"We care a lot about how our buildings handle
rain water, the amount of energy they use and the
way they contribute to human health and happy
lives,"said designer Jason Lear from Seattle-based
Batt + Lear, a sustainability-focused firm."When
we build a new home or when we do a gut remodel
of an existing building, that is probably the only
opportunity in our lifetime we are going to have
to get the bones and the building assemblies right.
It starts there."
GLACIAL CHANGES

ABOVE Vertical Grain Caramel-

ized (VGC) panels from TERAGREN are furniture-grade bamboo plywood panels and are
available in multiple thicknesses
and constructions in both solid
and cross-ply options. The ¾-in.,
three-ply VGC panels can be
used to fabricate anything from
tabletops to cabinets to shelves.

RIGHT NORA LIGHTING

introduces Bravo FROST, a
120-volt LED linear fixture with
a frosted lens that eliminates
diode images. Symmetrical internal reflectors create broad,
even lighting at just 7 watts per
foot, and the LED technology
prevents UV and infrared rays
and minimizes forward heat.

BY ERINN LOUCKS

Kitchen & Bath Business / SEPTEMBER 2017 / KBBONLINE.COM / The official publication of KBIS (KBIS.com)

http://www.KBBONLINE.COM http://www.KBIS.com

Kitchen & Bath Business - September 2017

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