The biggest single color to hit the building industry since someone painted the town red is green. It has not only become a powerful trend within our industry, it has become a societal shift guiding more and more customers through their project designs. It's in our best interest as builders and remodelers to be ready to serve those customers and be ready to support their desires.
And since customers are asking about for it, manufacturers are making products to support the demand, and — this may be the sharpest tip on the trident — big-time corporate money is seeing the inherent wisdom of green building practices and products in commercial buildings and projects.
Check this out: The Oscars were green this year. Microsoft has installed more than 2,000 solar panels on its Silicon Valley campus, while Google has recently installed 9,200 solar panels in its Mountain View, Calif., headquarters — the biggest solar project to date. But, if it flies, Wal-Mart (which is nearing the end of the request-for-proposal process) may deploy a solar panel project 60 — yes, 60 — times that of Google's across 300 of its stores. This would be the largest solar endeavor ever. Add to that Wal-Mart's long-term environmental goals which include using 100% renewable energy, creating zero waste and selling products derived from sustainable resources. They've already got two prototype stores up and running. Wal-Mart makes for a driving force with one heck of a hybrid synergy drive turning the wheels.
The green trend is merging into the construction mainstream at rapid speeds. It seems builders and homeowners are discovering at the same time that green products and building techniques mean as much for environmental stewardship as they do for the bottom line. In other words, we've reached a point where an efficient home is easier on the earth, cheaper to operate and better for the health of its occupants, leaving us with a new bottom line: Green is efficient.
What's more, the color has a nice poetic synergy to it, too. That shows up in the green products and processes in this series: Green is simultaneously the feel-good color of verdant landscapes and the highly prized hue of cold, hard cash. Nice combo.
Take a look at some of my favorite green products from the 2007 International Builders' Show:
Coolerado Cooler
Open Built
Johns Manville Formaldehyde-Free Insulation
RhinoDeck
LivingElements Architectural Products
Fafco
Enviroshake
Platinum Advanced Building Systems
