There’s a lot of talk across the country, and indeed the world, about building greener.

However, as the old Yorkshire saying goes, “When all is said and done, there’s a lot more said than done.”

The time for going green is here, now, and your shop can do its part. You don’t have to talk about it too much, you just have to do it.

There are three main areas you could focus on:

1. Being aware of the materials you use.
   
2. Generating less waste.
   
3. Building work that lasts.

Treading lighter on the planet starts with you and your employees – it’ll be a new commitment to do things differently. It was only a few years ago that we didn’t recycle newspapers; now most communities have that set up. Look at how much paper product is made from re-used materials these days. There’s no reason we can’t bring some fresh thinking into how we build and fabricate things.

Are you willing to make some changes? Think about your grandkids, and how they’ll feel about you and your work – they may see some of the things you’ve built after you’re long gone. It would be nice if the things you build outlast you. It would be nice if a future generation could look at your projects and see how well you saved resources, used better materials and built things to last.

And how about your customers? Are the times really right to be offering products that are environmentally better? I can tell you this: For many people, especially the more affluent and educated crowd (the ones often buying our products), if they can buy something that’s greener, it’s way more attractive to them – especially if the cost is the same or only slightly higher. Look at the huge growth of organic foods. They’re usually better, and often cost more than the regular stuff.

How can anyone with an ounce of intelligence not believe that greener is usually better for the planet? And why are the big box stores embracing greener products? It’s not just because it’s the right thing to do. It’s because green sells.

Green Material

Start with the solid wood you use. More and more lumber suppliers are getting their materials from well-managed sources. This may mean you can buy wood from your supplier that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC – www.fsc.org), and the cost of this material is finally coming down. You may pay a slight premium, but you may be able to pass that along to your clients – especially if you present it as an upgrade.