Green kitchens is something i've been learning about. Unfortunately it's a hard sell. With the cost of a new kitchen equaling that of a luxury car, there usually ends up being a lot of "Cost engineering". The eco-friendly stuff is generally more expensive than the more readily available standard materials, and sadly is the first to get scratched.
The last two that i've done, however, have both had extensive Low-Voltage lighting plans installed. which cuts the wattage draw considerably. They too are more than twice the cost of a standard lighting layout. I try to steer customers in the LV lighting direction, it makes the lower-end cabinets really pop. furthermore, the efficiency offsets the initial cost over time.
I did a Beer bottle backsplash, on a basement wet-bar one time. It was pretty sweet. We had the bottoms of beer bottles shaved off, and set them in different color-tinted mortars. We used larger liquor and wine bottle bottoms as accent mosaics too. I wish i had a picture of it.