The cabinetry in the Purdue solar INhome was recognized for its cutting edge green material in a blog composed by the manufacturer Grabill Cabinets of Grabill, Ind. The cabinets are sold by Design Alternatives in Lafayette, Ind. The article on the cabinetry can be viewed on the Grabill blog at http://www.grabillcabinets.com/blog/2011/08/contemporary-style-green-appeal.
Design Alternatives worked closely with the students on the Purdue team to build the cabinets, and design the kitchen, bath, and laundry areas for the energy efficient home that was entered into the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, held Sept. 23 through Oct. 2, 2011 in Washington, D.C. Purdue placed second out of 19 teams in the collegiate competition.
The cabinetry is made of a sustainable material called reconstituted veneers. What makes this material so ecofriendly is that the woods are easily manufactured, and are identical from sheet to sheet, says Susan Benedict, owner of Design Alternatives. The consistency of the veneers allows the manufacturers and dealers, like Design Alternatives, to provide a more attractive and economically feasible choice for the consumer.
“Veneer laminate products are formed, and dyed for color into realistic existing wood patterns,” Benedict says.
During the competition, the cabinetry also qualified for LEED credit, which is an international standard used to measure sustainability in products, materials, and construction of buildings.