defining “GREEN”

The word “Green” has come to mean many things to many people. In fact, I think we are nearing the point in our larger “Green” conversations — with clients, with suppliers, with our peers — where we need to be a lot more specific.

Does that mean that I think Green is a passing fad? On the contrary; I think it means that we are heading to a new point in the spectrum of the adoption of “Green” attributes — in remodeling, building, designing and replacing. I think that we need move beyond the sheer enthusiasm that many of us have for the topic and for the promise that it holds for the remodeling industry.

In many ways, serious proponents of green have begun avoiding the word in favor of going directly to one of the term’s component parts. Sustainability: There are whole schools of thought pertaining to this one topic. Is the overall plan for a remodeling project built with sustainability principles in mind? Are the products used — from cabinets to countertops and decking material — made with materials that can be replaced. Life Cycle: This is a narrower topic. The durability of the products selected is typically well known. Will it last for 50 years? If the client sells the house and a product is ripped out, is there another use for the product. Can it be recycled? Energy Efficiency: This is a particularly powerful topic among remodeling clients these days. It is practical. It has a clear payback. And, with the current Stimulus Package tax credit in place, the relevance to focus on energy-efficiency is particularly urgent. Are you offering windows that will qualify for the tax credits? Are you interested in solar or geo-thermal? The payback is longer but the tax credits are bigger. Carbon Footprint: Can a selection be made to source locally produced materials? Energy-efficient windows that are shipped on a big rig across the country might do wonders for the homeowner who pays the subsequently lower energy bills, but the environment is slightly worse off from the carbon emissions involved in the long-distance shipping.

These are just a few of the ways green, and conversations about green can be taken to more useful levels. There are numerous other topics – de-construction of used materials, water-conservation — and this is ultimately where the conversation must go. Eventually, there may come a day when green completely recedes into the background. All good remodeling and building will be green, but we just won’t have to think of it that way.