Green in 2009

The housing industry is in one of the most depressed times in many many years. With this down turn the focus to include green in a project may get pushed aside. Budgets are tight and many builders have the concept that green building costs more and in some cases it does. But it does not have to cost more and the suppliers in the building industry could help change the higher cost stigma.

This post is directed more to the building material supply industry. Many in the industry have not engaged the green concept and are quick to tell customers it cost more to discourage the customer from wanting to be green. Like I said in some cases it does cost more up front.

Look at an energy efficient window. It may have a higher up front cost but it does not cost more to install. But the higher cost is recouped from savings on the heating and cooling bill. Many products can be looked at this same way. What is the cost over two years, five years or ten years and then determine if it costs more.

The material suppliers could gain great benefits from engaging the green concept. But it takes more than just defining which products qualify in a green program. It takes learning the process and helping customers through the process. What differenciates different suppliers? Service! Some will say it is the product or the price. But service is what makes customers return. Learn the LEED or NAHB Green Program process to help your customer whether a contractor or a home owner through the process and you will be the person that will get the next green project from this customer.

Some of the ways to learn more about the green building process is:

• Studying the different guides.
• Reading from the internet.
• Joining Green committees
• Reading Green Building books
• Reading the many blogs about Green Building.

This list can go on and on but the key is the learn the whole process not just about the products. Many lumber suppliers get caught up in just the wood supplied but there is so must more. Recycled wood products, reclaimed wood and alternitives to wood are more of what a lumber supplier needs to know. How do the different products compare, what are each of the benefits and what are the cost differences. How can you truely sell a product if you don’t know what you are selling against? Digging in and learning the process is going to be a great benefit for any supplier in the economy of today.