Because we care about both our customers and the environment, beginning July first our Warner Robins, GA location and Henson Building Material’s Black Mountain, NC location will be Green Dealer certified.

What does this mean for our customers?  Our sales staff has been through extensive online training complete with tests and exams for knowledge of green building materials.

The areas of study were mold, roofing, windows, air sealing, flashing & sealing, cladding, and insulation.  But we’re not stopping there!  A weekly in-house newsletter highlighting our focus on green values will be available for continuing education, not only for our certified sales staff but for all twelve locations.

Let us be your Green Building Resource center!  Come by one of our certified locations or contact Claire Taylor at clairet@wrsupply.com for more information.

Ah, the holiday time is upon us again and in addition to the madness of shopping, cooking, loving, joy-giving, and budgeting is the ever-present need to do it all GREEN.

Like me, you may have a family member who always reuses, recycles, composts, eats organic and has calluses from all the tree snuggling.  These people intimidate me to no end. Luckily, my aunt is a kind, non-judgmental soul who can encourage others to save the planet without making it sound like a fate worse than death.  (PETA asked Ben & Jerry’s to use human breast milk to save the cows?!) 

“Green” values have become more prevalent in our society, forming like a hurricane over California, from the ‘60s, and sweeping across our nation.  Some of the values are easier to follow than others, like the Christian concept of loving everybody.  Ex. Love Brad Pitt, no problem.  Love thy congressman – a bit harder. Love Hugo Chavez?  Sheesh.

So I see it like this:  There are Brad Pitt-green values:  like recycling cans; Congressman-green values: like composting garbage; and Chavez-green values: living in a grass hut.

But I digress.

Christmas Gift Ideas for the Green Celebrity, Politian, or Dictator in Your Family:

ý  Donations to a favorite charity:  Keep America Beautiful, Greenpeace, or Earth Liberation Army

ý  Plants: an easy-to-care for houseplant, a nice tree for the yard, or a yucca plant so your loved one won’t have to eat factory-refined, chemical-poisoned carbohydrates bought from an evil corporate conglomerate

ý  Computer:  Dell bamboo eco-pc, green Apple MacBook, or an abacus

ý  For the Home:  recycling center for the garage, outside composter made with reused and recycled materials, or a bundle of thresh for the dirt floor.

ý  For the Kitchen:  EVOO made with real virgins, EVOO made with reused virgins, or EVOO made with soy.

ý  Clothes:  Jacket made from recycled bottles, reused shoes found at Goodwill,  or homespun overalls

Hopefully these ideas will help you decide what to get the “Greenie” in your life.  Good luck and Happy Holidays!

What is Green Building?

Green Building is a method of construction that incorporates a whole building design approach into every phase of the home building process, including design, construction, energy and water efficiency, lot development, and resource-efficient building design to enhance the well-being of occupants and to minimize negative impacts on the community and natural environment.

Benefits of Building Green

@  Environmental Benefits: Green buildings conserve natural resources, protect ecosystems, improve air and water quality, and decrease waste.

@  Economic Benefits: Green buildings reduce capital and operating costs, increase property values, and boost worker productivity.

@  Health and Community Benefits: Green buildings improve the health, well-being, and quality of life for occupants as well as the surrounding community. The community also benefits from a reduction in pressures on the local infrastructure and service delivery systems. 

(The Green Building Handbook, 2007; New York City Economic Development Corporation)

Cost of Building Green

Building green doesn’t have to be expensive.  Many products labeled “green” have a comparable price to those that do not meet green standards; however, many have an increased price of 2-5%, which can easily be recouped in energy and water conservation savings, healthcare savings, and/or tax breaks.

Future of Green Building

In July 2008, California became the first state to adopt green standards for all new construction.  The building codes call for increased energy efficiency, increased water conservation, and waste reduction.  California standards in many industries have long been a preview of standards to come for the rest of the country. 

Although they may not be called “Green Building Standards”, these new requirements will make their way east to our area over the next decade.