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Ideas & Food for Thought:
So, you're interested in “going green” on a project. Let us guess...you're now asking yourself: Where do I start? Consider your level of commitment. For some of us, stopping our use of the garden hose as a broom to clean our driveway is a big step. Others want to raise the conversation from talk about green buildings to discussions about sustainable economies and communities. There is a paradox in that our environmental situation calls for urgent action, yet human nature is to resist sudden, extreme change. Start with a few simple steps to see the benefits and get in the habit, then get more ambitious. Make a family decision about what is a reasonable first step and about potential follow-up if the first one is successful. Try one low-flow showerhead and replace the lights in one room with compact fluorescents to see how you like it. If you are already using urea formaldehyde-free cabinetry and zero-VOC paints because you have chemical sensitivities, step up to increased insulation, solar domestic water heating or solar panels. Like the rule of thumb in saving for retirement, incremental investments over time in green building can have significant long-term impacts. Take a Second Look: You can build or remodel a green home that looks just like any home around your area. Some production builders have been incorporating green building concepts into standard homes for a long time! It is all about your tastes and trade-offs. There are enough options now available that you can achieve almost any look you desire: classic, contemporary, eclectic, you name it. (Okay. We admit that we take some issue with trying to transplant Expand Your Definition of Cost: The initial price of a product only provides a glimpse into the impact or ‘total cost of ownership’ of the product. If a solar domestic water heater costs 5 times as much in upfront costs but pays for itself in three years, providing free hot water from then on out, does it really cost more? If it is built into your mortgage, you are making cash from Day One. Many green products have the same first cost as their non-green counterparts. Some less. Some more. In general, though, it is better economically to move to an investor mentality rather than continue with the immediate consumption mentality that our economy has been oriented around for decades. Learn More & Be Part of the Solution...We understand this whole "Going Green" thing can be a bit overwhelming, complicated and oftentimes seems to raise more questions than answers. We believe that education is key to promoting awareness and implementing change. In this effort, we offer a full line of educational workshops to help you through learning more about sustainability and a whole host of environmental topics. We look forward to seeing you there. Click on the links below for more information on specific applications of our products:
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