Page 66 - Green Builder March-April 2017 Issue

FROM THE TAILGATE

New Offerings for the Sustainable Minded By Ron Jones

A Deeper Shade of Green

I
ENJOY READING AND learning about the amazing
projects featured in this issue of Green Builder,
highlighting our annual green home award
winners, and perusing the lists of outstanding
building materials, products and systems that
these extraordinary builders and designers have
employed in their entries. But I can’t help but shake
my head and privately chuckle in amusement, as well.
You see, for more than a decade we have delivered
the highest-quality information to our readers about
successful sustainable development and green
building. Yet from time to time, we still turn over a
rock and find folks in the industry who haven’t gotten
the message, or for some reason refuse to hear it.
While the vast majority of the building product
manufacturers—and those who handle their
marketing internally or through third-party
agencies—have long understood the underlying green
message and the benefits that come with it, there are
still a few out there who leave us bewildered and
asking ourselves where they have been for the past
couple of decades.
When we approach these companies, they
sometimes respond that they’re “not promoting
green” or that they “don’t think they have a green
message to tell,” or that their “customers aren’t asking
for green.” Others tell us that they are only trying to
reach “mainstream” builders and designers, whatever
that means.
Sure, we are quite proud of the fact that green
implies a sincere commitment to the natural environment, as well as In a nutshell, green means higher quality!
an awareness and concern for social issues that are directly affected Take time to study the award-winning projects in this issue, and be
by the shelter industry. But there is so much more to the whole sure to take a good look at the products and systems that are listed
concept of green. So, in the context of the building and development with each one. These are not exotic, crunchy, hard-to-find options
sector, what does green really mean? that come from obscure sources, whether we’re talking about the
We believe it simply means better. building envelope, surfaces, mechanical systems, finishes, appliances
Green means not being satisfied with just meeting the minimum or whatever you care to name.
requirements. Green means being energy and resource efficient. They are proven, respected, readily available components that
Green means improved comfort and indoor environment quality. really smart builders—those who deliberately and strategically
Green means employing proven building science, third-party differentiate themselves and their projects from the pack—specify
verification and performance testing. in order to excel and succeed.
Green means durability and resiliency, and it means caring about If you would like to offer your goods and services to the kind of
your projects and how they perform long after they have been builders and designers featured in this issue of Green Builder, you
completed. know where to find us. GB

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