The designer in me is always intrigued by what is to come. What is the next trend. How do we improve upon what is available to us today. While I find the following kitchen fascinating due to its ingenuity, innovation, and what is defined as truly green (ecological…not just green-washing) its aesthetic needs improvement (of course). However, like all great ideas and prototypes it has to start somewhere. In concept this is brilliant and I am excited to see where it lands aesthetically in the kitchen of the future.

The Ekokook is a sustainable kitchen, and by sustainable it is more than just energy efficient and made of recycled products, that truly defines reuse and respect of our environment. The Ekokook kitchen from Faltazi uses three built-in microplants to recycle water and break down waste.  Based on its various compartments there is a zone for washing, food storage (both dry and cold), prep tables appear from what seems to be with George Jetson ease, a steam oven (yes you can cook with steam and I’m not talking the steamers of vegetables we currently nuke in the microwave), a gas burner, and there is a hood used for extraction. This kitchen by design is efficient, compact, and supports the concept of  cradle-to-cradle by reusing every resource.

Will the kitchen of the future look like this? Probably not. Will the kitchen of the future incorporate the concept and function of the Ekokook? I hope so and would like to say most definitely. While I’m not sure how quickly it will hit the mainstream you can bet on finding elements of this design in cutting edge European homes first and it will eventually find its way to the United States in homes that are “off-the-grid”. In time some of these elements, I hope, will find their way into everyday appliances, fixtures, and features of the modern day kitchen (of the future). Do I want my own kitchen to look like this? Absolutely not, though I would be more than open and willing to incorporate some of the same functionality.

I like the words that Faltazi uses to describe this kitchen as stated in the July/August/10  issue of icon (an ASID magazine and newsletter for those of you that are not familiar), “All the air, water, wind and sun that reach a habitat must be seen as scarce resources to be captured and used.” This is so true despite the fact that some live in areas that they may not feel the affects of our dwindling natural resources the fact is…they are dwindling, and quickly dwindling. Faltazi goes on to say, “Each drop of water must be collected and used to the utmost before being evacuated to external networks.” Quite insightful and highly interesting. If you are a bit of a gadget geek like me and you often find yourself with your eyes wide and mouth open in amazement at what technology can do today you really should check out more information on the Ekokook at www.ekokook.com (tip, select EN for English on the left toolbar of the website).

At the end of the day Faltazi has incorporated some of the elements we have available to us today, such as recycling and composting, and taken it a few steps further by making all components convenient, compact, and at hand. With the Ekokook concept and design no longer can a person say that recycling, reusing, and being environmentally responsible isn’t convenient.

The 2009 LEED Awards for Homes were announced and my favorite of the bunch is the BrightBuilt Barn Prototype.

If you aren’t aware LEED is an awards system based on points for effective, efficient, and innovative eco-friendly design. We’re talking more than just low VOC paint and low flow water faucets, it’s the design reference system to turn to for building the best when it comes to respect for the environment. Officially LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. For more on this system, how it works, and why it is important check out the USGBC site at http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1988  

Back to the BrightBuilt Barn, it is attractive, clean and simple in design therefore it seems possible to incorporate some of the eco-responsible construction techniques into a home that is comfortable to live in. Most importantly it uses some the of most interesting and new ideas and technology in environmental design such as the following:

Super Insulation = No Furnace – The most efficient and best insulation is used in the outer walls of the structure. The R-Value of the insulation is R-40.  The R-value is a measure of a material’s resistance to heat flow and in most of our homes if we have high quality insulation it measures, at best, R-19.  Of course combined with excellent high efficiency windows the combination of the two means the home does not need a furnace. Amazing!

200-Year Design– We’ve all said, “They just don’t build them like they used to.” Well, now “they” do and you can. I live in a home that is 100 years old; while it needs TLC I still appreciate its design and solid structure that has withstood all these years therefore the inclusion of designing with longevity in mind is something I relate to and is truly important.  The BrighBuilt Barn is designed and built in such a way that it its lifespan is measured in centuries, not decades. Essentially this means that it is designed to last indefinitely due to the quality and durability of the materials used. It also keeps the inner workings (the systems) untangled which gives greater flexibility and can be easily modified and adapted to over the years. (i.e. you won’t have to deconstruct everything to make it even more efficient with new technology in the future). My favorite concept!

Off-site Fabrication– The home is built in a controlled environment that reduces construction waste to a level that is simply unheard of in traditional on-site construction. Using computer-aided fabrication of the home in a workshop or warehouse reduces waste because it is a controlled environment. When a home is built on-site unpredictable weather and a construction site that can at times be unorganized due to all the sub-contractors working at the same time there is a greater chanced for a large amount of waste. Waste produced in on-site construction is typically about 50% in materials. Essentially, you could build half of a house the same size with the amount of waste produced in on-site construction. Off-site fabrication using the BrightBuilt method produced only 10% in material waste.

Other methods that leant to their 2009 LEED – Innovative Project Award include the fact that it Wears a Mood Ring, it is a Sun Worshipper, and it used “State of the Shelf” Design. Sound crazy? Improbable? Well, it isn’t and it is the way of the future if we want to be responsible and leave a living, breathing, beautiful earth to future generations. Referencing and using building techniques found in the BrightBuilt Barn prototype would mean we could even leave our home for future generations to enjoy…something we used to do.

There is plenty about the construction and design of  the BrightBuilt Barn that is so intriguing and I encourage you to go direct to their site to learn more. All the facts, figures, and references to the construction methods mentioned in this posting are discussed in more detail at http://www.brightbuiltbarn.com 

If you regularly watch design programs on HGTV, the DIY channel, or read design magazines you often hear that eco-friendly paint was used in a home. But what does that exactly mean? It never seems to be explained. Therefore I thought I would share what I know…

First, what is a VOC (Volatile Organic Compound)? On a very basic level it is a toxic gas that is emitted into the air from various chemicals found in paint products. It’s that wet chemical scent that you notice when painting indoors. According to the EPA the levels of Volatile Organic Compounds have been found to be 2 to 5 times higher indoors than outdoors. These levels can sore to 1000 times higher in the period during and immediately following when you are painting the room. Also, a low level of toxins can be emitted for years after the application has been completed. Why is this a concern and how does a VOC affect your health?

In the short term it can have affects such as a headache or nausea. Perhaps your eyes will itch or your throat will feel a little sore. Some may even have a type of allergic reaction which includes itchy or irritated skin. There are various levels of negative health affects caused from a VOC. Unfortunately there is still a lot to be learned but we do know that in some cases VOCs can even be connected to cancer.  

Back to the original inspiration for sharing what I know about Low VOC paint and why it is an important element of paint product selection? First and foremost it is all around better for your well being and creating a healthy home environment. There are other added benefits such as the fact that many are not considered hazardous waste therefore it is easier to dispose of the remaining product and you can often recycle the can it came in. Also, Low VOC products rate well when it comes to performance which means they provide quality coverage and they are easy to clean (i.e. scrub).

Nearly every paint manufacturer offers an eco-friendly paint base that is considered a Low VOC product. I found a great nontoxic paint quick reference on eartheasy.com at: Non-Toxic Paints

As a closing thought, VOCs are present in more than just paint. Building materials such as hardwood flooring or carpet, glue or adhesives, cleaning supplies, and even our furnishings emit varying levels of VOCs. I don’t want to overwhelm you and I could potentially write forever about this topic so consider this information as food for thought for now. On that note I hope you will come back to The I.Design Box in the future for tips about what to look for, questions to ask, and recommendations for other eco-friendly products.

Additional great resource to learn more about VOCs: Indoor Air Quality from the EPA