What is a green architect?
The term green get thrown around a lot in today’s market place. From national companies looking to get into the niche green cleaning market to start up companies offering new services like energy audits. How do you get through all the marketing and find out if there is really value added? How do you figure out who is a green architect?
It all comes down to your values. We all make decisions based on our values. They might be based in economics, religion, heritage, or history. At the base of all our values, it comes down to what we personally think is right and just. So my value proposition for green to you is base your selections on common sense and compassion. If the claim seems to good to be true, it probably is not true. If the product has all the same ingredients as the competition, but has a green colored label with a leaf, it probably is not a greener solution. If the smell of the product makes you sick, or worse, if the label has a skull and crossbones, it is not a green product. If your action impacts the ability for future generations to enjoy that same ability to execute that action, then you are probably not working towards a green future. I encourage you not to buy into the green hype, but instead to look toward compassion. Don’t just look for solutions that satisfy your needs, but look for solutions that meet your needs without compromising others to achieve their goals.
In the real estate market for instance, help clients understand that lower energy and water bills will help them monthly to be able to make their mortgage payments. Yes, they want that big house with a nice yard, and yes you want to make the sell, but if their utility bills don’t allow them to make ends meet, they will probably never be a return customer. If on the other hand, you show that you care about their best interests and not just making a sell, you will not only gain a friend, you will gain the best marketing tool possible. They will tell everyone how good you took care of their needs and refer you to all their friends. The term green is just a label. The true path we should all be working towards is doing the best job possible with all the information we have available. If each of us works towards a better future for everyone, we will all enjoy the benefits of our efforts.