Designing a sustainable kitchen: the future of the commercial and residential market

Whether you want LEED certification for a new project (read more ) or simply want to make a building more desirable to the end customer, making sustainable choices is more important than ever. Today we want to talk to you about alternatives for designing the kitchen, whether professional (HoReCa) or residential, from a green perspective. Whether you are building a new kitchen or renovating an old one, there are many ways to be sustainable and it is easier than you think, although a sustainable kitchen requires careful and thoughtful planning and design. Here are our tips.

Finding the right partner for your sustainable kitchen

All products involved in a project, including kitchens, can compete for certification credits, such as LEED, as long as they meet the requirements. To develop an eco-sustainable project, therefore, it is essential to look for suppliers of products, such as furniture, appliances and fittings, that meet the required parameters and are able to provide the information, documentation and certifications that qualify the environmentally friendly performance of their product and the quality of their production processes. In our case, most of our taps come with theWater Label, which indicates the water and energy efficiency of the product. You can find all our certified taps at this link. This means that Idral participates in the unique agreement in the European plumbing sector on the criteria to be met to ensure greater product efficiency and therefore less water waste, endorsed by the European Commission, which involves strict criteria monitored and verified by Independent Inspectors.

Sustainability is a fundamental part of our philosophy so we apply this vision to everything we do, starting with production. We have implemented many interventions in this direction, not least the photovoltaic system to make our production more and more based on renewable energy sources (if you want to know more read this article). OUR TAPS AND FITTINGS CAN THEREFORE CONTRIBUTE TO MEETING THE REQUIRED CREDITS AS LONG AS THEY COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS.

Using sustainable materials

The construction materials you choose for your project have a significant impact on the overall sustainability of the building. For example, you can choose certified, responsibly harvested and processed wood that is environmentally friendly, plastic-free paints to reduce the impact on the environment and improve the health of users, natural materials such as bamboo, or recycled materials such as glass.

Even in the case of taps, recyclable alternatives such as stainless steel are an ideal alternative for the environment and the customer. Our stainless steel products are not only designed to be durable, reducing the need for replacements and repairs, but also combine the recyclable material with an automatic, electronic or timed shut-off system that controls the duration of the water flow by automatically shutting off the water supply, thus reducing water consumption.

In addition, stainless steel does not require surface coatings or paint, which could be harmful to the environment. Using sustainable materials means investing in quality. It is better to make a good investment once it will last a long time, than to have to spend on maintenance, replacement and wasted water.

Saving water with smart taps

The issue of water waste is crucial if we want to build a sustainable kitchen. Whether you have a large commercial kitchen or a small kitchenette in your flat, it is worth managing water efficiently: it will save you money and help the environment! The first tip is to use low-flow faucets, in our case 5 or 6 litres per minute according to the article instead of the traditional faucets that have a flow rate of 12 to more than 20 litres per minute when fully open. This saves at least 50% of the water consumption. Furthermore, as mentioned, the use of automatic water shut-off control is the best way to reduce water waste. In the case of the kitchen, our recommendation is the use of electronic taps or pedal taps.

Regarding electronic taps, we have launched a revolutionary electronic kitchen tap that not only looks good, is easy to use and significantly reduces consumption compared to a traditional tap, as you can see in this video.

Our foot-operated faucets are 40 years old, but continue to be an efficient and economical alternative, especially for professional kitchens, as they are an extremely practical solution that provides great freedom of movement, as they do not require the use of hands. In addition, they save up to 44% of traditional water consumption due to greater control of water flow.

Choose energy-efficient devices

When you want to go green, you have to invest in energy-efficient devices, and we are not just talking about appliances or LED lights. Did you know that you can also use energy-efficient taps?

Thermostatic taps are a good example, as they allow you to control the temperature, reducing energy waste. Our thermostatic taps are designed to automatically shut off the water when it reaches the desired temperature. The valves maintain a constant water temperature, so there is no need to waste energy by constantly adjusting the water temperature. If you have an electric water heater, this is an ideal complement to increase its efficiency.

Water heating accounts for about 18% of the average household's energy consumption. By using these valves, you will use less hot water, less energy in general, which will reduce your bills and help the environment.

Our new electronic kitchen faucet has a thermostatic system that also makes it ideal for saving energy.

A sustainable kitchen not only helps the environment, but increases efficiency, requires minimal maintenance, reduces operating costs and offers health benefits. In a world where reducing water consumption is becoming a key priority and where more and more people value environmental sustainability, Idral's technology is essential for a sustainable commercial and residential kitchen. Do you want to explore all the water saving possibilities when designing your next kitchen? Contact the experts at Idral!