There has been much speculation on whether the green building movement is just a publicity stunt for vendors or an actual attempt on saving mother earth. There are many out there that think it is just another marketing tool used by big business to try and get us contractors on board with selling a whole bunch of unnecessary products to the end user. Then, there are those who think that reducing our carbon footprint is the only way to save our planet from peril and create products that cater to that goal. In an article that I read from ‘Builder’ magazine this month, a survey stated that the concern over the state of the economy outweighed the concern for the environment (59% to 8%). So what is the true motivating factor of vendors behind choosing to ‘Go Green?’ My opinion falls somewhere in the middle; while there is a desire to save the earth, vendors will not waste money making products that tout this notion if it was not a popularized concept and didn’t put money in their pocket in the end. I agree that construction waste is out of control. Just by sorting our jobsite debris, we can make a difference in our bottom line and reduce the amount of waste being sent to the landfill by reusing or recycling materials. However, there are some things I do not agree with. For example, the ‘payback’ guarantees made by choosing one material over another or by one ‘method’ over another. We don’t know if spray foam insulation will payback the homeowner in 20 years or even ever. It’s an approximation, at best. Another example is solar paneling. While it may save money each month in power bills, there is usually a large upfront cost and there is maintenance to consider. Ultimately, you can’t always think that a reduction in monthy bills equates to the investment being sound when looking at the big picture. So, as a consumer, what do you do? At BRC, we find it important to always make informed choices. Going Green does not mean you are just wasting your money or being duped by vendors trying to bank on the green movement. There are viable methods to save money (in the ‘big picture’ sense) and to save the environment. I think the best places to invest money when going green are in Water efficiency and Lighting. Water efficiency is not only good for the environment by making the most of water sources, but in most cases, implementing water efficient fixtures reduces costs to the homeowner with little initial investment. Just the simple act of installing a low-flow showerhead, that costs around $8, you can slash your water consumption by 50-70%. This means less water wasted and more water for the benefit of our environment. With lighting, we all know how many light bulbs we can go through in a year’s time. Just by switching to LED light fixtures, at an average $13 a bulb, you are saving yourself money not just in power bills, but also just in the mere fact you won’t have to change or buy another light bulb for another 2 years. As with any industry, the Green movement will have its share of vendors just looking to make money. However, there are vendors that are making money AND doing something to better the world we live in. It is always recommended to do your research or contact a LEED AP contractor to help you make informed choices.