Choosing a Countertop in Green Construction

The housing market downturn has resulted in limited new construction but remolding is active. Many homeowners are opting to stay where they are and remodeling their existing home. One of the most expensive but popular rooms to remodel is the kitchen. Due to the complexity of the room there are several opportunities to go green. One of these is the countertop. There are several green options available when choosing countertops but there are also some misconceptions.


1. Natural Stone: Granite has risen to the top of countertop preferences and has been touted as green by some. I have heard several arguments for granite’s green properties but in my opinion granite is far from green. Some individuals have a misconception that granite is renewable because it comes from the earth. This is far from true. It has taken millions of years for the stones to form and will take millions more for them to come back, if ever. Another con of granite is the large amount of embodied energy that goes into getting the stone from the earth. There are a few upsides to granite and possibly the only saving graces. It is very durable making it a possible life time material for the owners of the home. It can also be repurposed. An example of this is the EarthStone stepping stones that are made from granite refuse. To summarize, while it looks nice and is very durable granite should be on the bottom of anyone’s green countertop list.

2. Engineered Stone: There are several quartz based/engineered stone countertops on the market. These countertops are made from quartz and resin. While the resin leads to some questions regarding the green properties of the material companies such as Cambria have taken steps to ensure the resin has limited environmental impact. The green properties of these materials are very similar to engineered wood in that they are able to be created from smaller pieces of material, even waste from other process and they are very durable.

3. Tile : Tile countertops are not that common but they are an option when it comes to countertops. Natural stone tiles have similar “ungreen” properties to granite but there are recycled content tiles available. In using these, the countertops gain several green properties and can quickly become an option for the eco conscious homeowner. While the tiles are durable there is a weakness when it comes to the grout. Standard grout is subject to staining and the countertop is uneven due to the grout lines. With proper care and selection, tile countertops can be an enjoyable green option.

4. Concrete: There are several different versions of concrete countertops. The most commonly recognized are ones that incorporate recycled glass. This material has several green properties. If the countertop is fabricated on site the embodied energy of the product is reduced. All raw materials are delivered to the site and the countertop is made there. This differs from manufactured materials in that the raw materials are shipped to the manufacture site and then to the home. Using recycled materials is of course always a bonus with any material. The countertops are durable but they have been known to crack depending on the quality.


5. Bamboo: Bamboo countertops have the basic same properties as bamboo flooring. The countertops come from the same renewable material as flooring and are assembled in the same manner. The raw material does come from overseas but it can be shipped in large quantities on container ships. The countertops can contain urea-formaldehyde glue as can the floors. Durability can also be questioned but it will perform very similar to hardwood countertops.

6. Recycled Paper: This is probably one of the oddest countertops when first explained but it is a very good green choice. Paper countertops are made from recycled or FSC certified paper and resin. The countertops are durable and perform very similar to solid surface or granite. They do require some maintenance but again this is similar to several other materials. The finish is typically a matte and they do change color with age. This color change is similar to the darkening of wood over time. Overall like the other recycled product countertops this is a very good green choice.