Joel Bittle over at GreenBuildingElements makes several good points about how builders should consider the reality of building green. That it can be less costly — at least the same as — traditional building.
While the energy part of being or building green can be easily seen — if you can save a few bucks to be green, do it — his points on health (the long-term health affects) and sustainability wouldn’t inspire me to focus on green. (Maybe health, but it depends on the issue. For many health issues, it depends on what it is and if/how close it hits home. Bittle made a good comment about it.)
The more conversation and debates there are around green, I think the more it’ll become more mainstream.
But, only if it makes personal or business economic sense. Bottomline, I’m not going to be green just to be green unless it affects my bottomline.
And, the bottomline for business is one that can steer business into awash of green washing.
Companies — and the marketers and PR people behing them, agencies included — too often and too easily jump on bandwagons if there’s a buck to be made or a product to be pushed.
Don’t.
If social media does nothing else, it forces a higher level of ethics and transparency. Sooner or later, now more than ever, if you are trying to pull something, you’ll get exposed.
So, go ahead and jump on the green bandwagon. Ultimately, if we can conserve our environmental resources and our financial resources, we’ll all be better off. Just be sure you’re focusing on both kinds of green and not just green backs.
-Mike
