[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Re: Totally turned off by high prices for green products

[Andrew Pace, CSI]

> Here is another point:  You can pay a whale of a lot for specialized
> "Green" finishes from wonderful companies like AFM Safecoat, with near
> zero VOC's.  I went down to my local hardware store, and discovered a
> very cost competitive floor varnish, water soluble, 160G/L VOC's, in
> both a Minwax and a House brand.  You can't even smell the stuff when it
> is going down on the floor, makes as shiny a floor as I've seen
> anywhere.  Is 160G/L considered Green?  I dunno, but it works for me.

I've been a supplier of healthy and sustainable materials for almost 14
years.  The #1 question we get is "how much more are your products compared
to conventional...."  The simple answer is, it depends on what quality you
compare it to.  AFM Safecoat Paint might be $35.00 per gallon, but so is ANY
good quality, premium grade paint.  Comparing Safecoat to anything of less
quality would be comparing apples and grapefruits.  Also, Safecoat is sold
as a low to no-toxin paint, not just low or zero VOC.  Remember, ammonia,
silica and formaldehyde donors are all common ingredients in traditional low
to zero VOC paints, but don't have to be listed since they are not VOC's
themselves.  Therefore, using the VOC content alone to determine whether a
product is "green" is, IMHO, useless.

Regarding the cabinet, the per lineal foot price seems quite reasonable for
a custom cabinet.  Even though reclaimed lumber might have been used, the
fabrication cost is far greater for custom cabinetry than it is for
high-volume production pieces.  Once again, you get what you pay for.

Finally, whenever I'm consulting on a project, I make a point to find out
what the clients motivating factor is.  Is is human health, energy savings
or social ethics?   The term "green" building gets thrown around very
loosely nowadays and can have several meanings.  There is no perfect
product.  All products we work with can have "green" features, but a
drawback of some sort, so it's imperative that the client has a specific
focus so that decisions can be made.  I also make sure they realize that
quality materials and workmanship, green or not, will always be more
expensive.


Andrew J. Pace, CSI
Principal

Safe Building Solutions
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Phone: (262) 968-5070

www.safebuildingsolutions.com