The kitchen reno provided us with the chance to insulate the exterior wall, add radiant heat to the floors, replace old high-energy-use appliances with energy efficient ones, as well as use eco-friendly materials. We used FSC wood on the cabinets, low VOC particle board inside and replaced the window with a double-glazed thermal one.

Our kitchen and the adjoining back office are now the warmest rooms in the house, when they used to be the coldest. We have lowered the house thermostat by 2 degrees centigrade in the rest of the house from where it was before the reno. We wear warmer clothing around the house except when we get to the kitchen, which is pleasantly warm with an even heat that is delicious. It's the heart of our home and a very welcoming one where everyone likes to park.

I intend to post pictures to chronicle some of the steps and choices made. I'm sorry to admit that although we made some great choices, it is not the epitome of a green kitchen reno. For we used granite for the counter tops -- imported granite at that, I'm ashamed to admit. But, it's from the Ukraine near the Volga river, home, once upon a time, to Ian's grandparent's (until the Bolsheviks murdered his grandfather there) if we can be allowed to rationalize our choice in that way. And the iridescent blue, feldspar eyes in the black granite are, in a way, my romantic tribute to Ian's bluest of blue eyes. Afterall, Ian practically broke his back doing most of the reno work.

OK, now you see how easily one can rationalize a choice of materials that's seductive, but just not in keeping with the mandate here. Who knows how much energy it took to ship that granite to Toronto. And, it was mined from the earth to begin with, when there are many other eco alternatives that don't involve digging more resources up.

I've seen all sorts of eco-friendly counter top alternatives that are worth considering like enviroglass slabs, Silestone, and Alkemi's recycled surface materials. If I can only point others to make better choices, perhaps I can redeem myself just a little from having strayed from the path of greenfullness. In fact, having fallen into the trap of a kitchen reno which blew the budget for a few years, sadly speaks to why this blog took a back seat.

So now, in addition to reviewing some of the good choices we made, I'll start sharing my inspirations for all those changes we were contemplating -- until the crash dissolved any potential savings we could have used to fulfil these. Yes, like many others, we were going to borrow on our retirement savings for the cause. Now it will have to wait until the cash starts to flow again. That ought to give us plenty of time to plan.