Tag Archives: sustainable construction

September 20th at #KBtribechat – Kitchens Designed for Wellness

The KBtribechat questions:

1.)  There are many ways to design with wellness in mind, from open-concept kitchens that encourage family interaction and food prep to proper lighting. What does the wellness trend mean to you?

2.) Consumers are becoming more conscious of not just their own health, but the health of the planet.  Using sustainable building materials is more prevalent than ever before. How do you incorporate sustainable materials/elements into your designs?

3.) Your kitchen should serve as a retreat, not a pressure cooker. What tips do you have for streamlining design to avoid clutter and promote minimalism?

4.) An ideal Wellness Kitchen should be easy to maintain, user friendly for all ages and logically planned. Share your favorite Wellness Kitchen design and tell us why you love it.

5.) What wellness related products and ideas have you discovered lately?

6.) How would a kitchen design change if your client is focused on a wellness lifestyle?

7.)  Can a healthy kitchen design influence the food you consume? How can a well appointed kitchen promote healthy eating habits?

8.) How can we reduce waste in the kitchen?

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April 26 at #KBtribechat – Sustainability Today

An Earth Day discussion!

Sponsored and Hosted by BEKO USA

Our KBtribechat Questions:

1.What small sustainable actions do you believe can make a big impact on the planet?

2. What are your favorite ways to value the planet as your home?

3. What products make your sustainability wishlist?

4. Sustainability should also influence our purchasing and consumption habits, what are some tips to lower the number of trips to the grocery store?

5. What are some of your favorite ways of protecting planet Earth? Sustainability doesn’t need to be complicated, share your small changes with big impacts with us!

Thanks for participating in #KBTribeChat! Beko is proud to partner with you to care for our planet. Happy Earth Day!

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on Wednesday at 2pm eastern

by adding #KBtribechat to your tweets!

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April 20 at #KBtribechat –  An Earth Day Conversation

Sponsored and Hosted by Beko

Co-Hosted by Beko Healthy Kitchen Council member Suzanne Felber

Our KBtribechat questions:
  1. What does it mean to be living sustainably through design?
  2. Do designers have a responsibility to advise clients on the environmental impact of products in their homes?
  3. How can we inspire more clients to choose sustainable appliances when designing/building their homes?
  4. In what way can major appliance brands become more sustainable in the near future?
  5. What environmentally-friendly designs have you implemented recently? Show us your work!
  6. We always have New Years resolutions, so let’s make some for Earth Day! What are some of your Earth Day resolutions for this year?

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by adding #KBtribechat to your tweets!

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Whirlpool Corporation to Lead #KBtribechat Discussion on Today’s New Home Building & Design Trends

New construction homes have become an increasingly attractive option to potential buyers across generations, with 60% of buyers preferring a newly built home over an existing one, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) What Home Buyers Really Want report. What trends are driving the way newly built homes are built and designed?

Join Whirlpool Corporation (@WhirlpoolCorp) on Wednesday, October 6, as the company plays host to a KBTribeChat focused on the latest trends in new construction. Chat participants will discuss how these homes are designed, as well as must-have features, generational preferences, and more.

Building industry professionals can count on Whirlpool Corporation, the world’s leading kitchen and laundry appliance company, to provide innovative solutions that address the evolving needs of their customers. Whirlpool’s diverse portfolio of brands offers thoughtfully designed appliances that grow along with homeowners – no matter how their preferences or lifestyles may evolve.

Save the date for 2 p.m. ET Wednesday, October 6 to participate in the chat.

Here is an advance look at our KBtribechat questions:

  1. What are some must-have features among new construction homes?
  2. How are generational preferences influencing home building and design?
  3. How is sustainability expected to play a role when it comes to new home building?
  4. Awareness of health and wellness has risen in the last year. How has this influenced what people want in new homes?
  5. What home design trends are likely to be most in demand into 2022?
Drone Aerial View of Home Construction Site Foundations and Framing.

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April 21 at #KBtribechat – An #EarthDay Conversation

Our KBtribechat questions:

1.) How can we make daily choices that reduce our negative impact on the environment?

2.) Why is it important to protect the Earth?

3.) Is zero waste attainable? Share tips to help reduce waste.

4.) What home building and design trends have helped make homes more sustainable?

5.) How can smart/connected products help homeowners save energy and water?

6. ) How are you incorporating environmentally-driven solutions into your projects?

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at 2pm ET on Wednesday, April 21

by adding #KBtribechat to your tweets!

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March 18 at #KBtribechat – Fix-a-leak Week + Energy Efficient Options for K+B

A design discussion!

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Our KBtribechat questions:

Q1) What changes have you seen in sustainable home design in the last decade?

Q2) What products do you find to be the most eco-friendly and energy-saving?

Q3) What “green” features do you find essential in the kitchen? What energy savings trends do you see in the home appliances industry?

Q4.) How about manufacturing?  Does how a manufacturer manages its environmental impact matter in your decisions? How are companies with energy saving appliances and environmentally friendly practices recognized? Do you look for this information? Where?

Q5.) How can water be saved in the kitchen?  Please share good design tips, habits and products that save water.

Q6.) What about the bathroom? How can you save water in the bathroom?

Q7.)  In what other ways can you save this vital resource? #water

The Facts on Leaks

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on Wednesday, March 18

from 2 to 3pm eastern

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October 9 at #KBtribechat – Designing Kitchens and Baths that Last with Sustainable Natural Materials

A design discussion

Sponsored and Hosted by the Natural Stone Institute

Photo courtesy of Rugo Stone.

Ferris Bueller once said: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Doesn’t it seem like the same could be said about design trends? We constantly refresh Instagram and Pinterest or scan through our favorite design magazines, searching for the next new thing—something fresh, cool, and totally unexpected. Things that we loved six months ago now seem passé. In 2019, we move at super speed.

Let’s slow down for a moment. Instead of seeking out the next big trend, let’s think about what would happen if we focused on using materials that were built to last, like natural stone. Natural stones like granite, marble, quartzite, and soapstone have been used for hundreds of years, beloved for their durability, versatility, and easy maintenance. In recent years, stone companies have made significant efforts to ensure that best practices are in place for sustainability, both in quarrying and fabrication facilities. Whether you are designing in a style that is modern or classic, when you use natural stone, you will be designing a room that is made to last.

Italian marble quarry. Photo courtesy of the Natural Stone Institute.

Our KBtribechat Questions:

1.) How often does sustainability factor into material choices with your clients?

2.) In our fast-moving, “throwaway culture” world, how do we pivot back to timeless materials and designs?

3.) Sustainable materials like natural stone and wood are made to last. Share some of your favorite designs!

4.) How do you stay trendy/current while still designing something meant to last?

5.) Are there questions or misconceptions your clients have about choosing sustainable products?

6.) Using salvaged or reclaimed materials can add a unique piece of history to a project. Have you used materials like this in your designs?

7.) Natural stone is seen in currently trending kitchens, but it is also timeless. What other trends do you think will stand the test of time?

Join this Twitter discussion

on Wednesday, October 9

from 2 to 3pm

by adding #KBtribechat to your tweets!

Here’s where you can read the transcript for this KBtribechat discussion.

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May 8 at #KBtribechat – Designing With Health in Mind

A design discussion.

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We will be pinning to our Healthy Kitchens and Baths group Pinterest Board.

Our KBtribechat questions:

Q1.) In the design process, what details do you focus on when designing with health and safety in mind? Please share solutions you like!

Healthy material choices not only affect indoor air quality but it’s important to know how they affect the environment and if they are made from renewal resources .

Q2.) Are your clients asking for sustainable (healthy for the earth) and healthy products and design choices? Do these healthy building materials and design choices cost more?

Q3.) How can technology help us address health and safety concerns in the kitchen? What about in bathrooms?

Q4.) What features can help the end user make healthy choices in the kitchen?

Q5.) What features can offer healthful benefits in the bathroom?

Q6.) Do you take ergonomic principles into consideration when designing kitchens or bathrooms? Does this include the reasoning behind cabinet pull-outs and other cabinet features?  What about appliance considerations?

Q7.) In what ways can we plan for client safety in the kitchen and bath spaces we design? Please share important tips for designing spaces that work for all stages of life.

The reduction of clutter in our homes has not only been shown to reduce stress but simplification is a current design trend. How does this apply to designing healthy kitchens and bathrooms? 

Q8.) What are your go to design tips for reducing clutter in kitchens?

Q9.) What are your go to design tips for reducing clutter in bathrooms?

Share pictures of designs and ideas you like!

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on Wednesday, May 8

from 2 to 3pm eastern time

by adding #KBtribechat to your tweets!

Here’s a link to read the transcript for this KBtribechat.

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Building a Sustainable Future: Earth Day-themed #KBTribeChat

A design discussion

Sponsored and Hosted by Whirlpool Corporation

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Whirlpool Corporation is inviting kitchen and bath professionals to a special Earth Day-themed #KBTribeChat about sustainability in our industry.

With the growing demand for greater sustainability from consumers, it’s more important than ever for building and design professionals to incorporate eco-friendly and energy-efficient products and features into their projects.

For example, a new, global survey from Whirlpool Corporation showed that consumers favor appliances that help them decrease their environmental footprint:

  • Three in four respondents (74%) are interested in smart appliance features that reduce food waste
  • Three in four respondents (75%) are interested in smart appliance features that manage water usage
  • Two in three respondents (64%) say it’s important that their appliances help save on electricity costs

Across its portfolio of brands, Whirlpool Corporation offers high-performing appliances that conserve the earth’s resources and help homeowners do the same. The company continually monitors the environmental effects of its business, not only by creating many new and innovative products that consume less water and energy, but also by improving its manufacturing and distribution processes, and using materials that minimize the impact on the planet.

Join us at 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 24 as we discuss sustainability in the kitchen and bath industry.

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Here are our chat questions:

1. What home building and design trends have helped make homes more sustainable?
2. What products do you find to be most eco-friendly and energy-saving for the kitchen?
3. Are you seeing a demand for sustainable laundry appliances? Explain.
4. How can smart/connected products help homeowners save energy and water?
5. How are you incorporating environmentally-driven solutions into your projects?

 

Homes-Energy-Efficient Dryers

This photo provided by Whirlpool shows the Whirlpool Duet Front Load ENERGY STAR laundry pair, including the HybridCare Dryer, in a laundry room. For the first time in six years, Energy Star certification, a widely respected seal of approval for energy efficiency, has been expanded to include a new major household appliance. Dryers, perhaps the last of the major household appliances to be included in the Environmental Protection Agency’s program, will be available in 45 Energy Star models throughout the country starting Presidents’ Day weekend, according to the EPA. (AP Photo/Whirlpool)

 

Join this Twitter Chat Conversation

on Wednesday, April 24

from 2 to 3pm eastern time

by adding #KBtribechat to your tweets!

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April 19 at #KBtribechat – A Sustainability Discussion in celebration of Earth Day

A kitchen and bath industry conversation!

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This week we will be pinning to our Earth Day group pinterest board, a compilation of favorite sustainable and green designs and products. Let us know if you’d like to be added to the board!

Our KBtribechat questions:

1.) What eco/green/sustainable building tips do you suggest for kitchens and baths?

2.) How can we make kitchens and bathrooms more energy efficient?

3.) What remodeling choices affect indoor air quality? Please share good solutions.

4.) What user habits in the kitchen or bath can help with environmental responsibility?

5.) What eco-friendly products are on your list which can reduce the impact of construction on the environment?

Join this Twitter Chat discussion

on Wednesday, April 19

from 2 to 3pm eastern time

by adding #KBtribechat to your tweets!

Here’s the transcript for this #KBtribechat.

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