Green building materials are becoming increasingly popular as more people worry about the impact of human activity on the environment.
Manufacturers are constantly finding innovative approaches to construction with sustainability in mind, allowing modern green buildings to offer an array of impressive benefits.
Far from being a fleeting trend, green building is quickly becoming the future of construction, and retailers that want to meet their customers’ needs and remain profitable should ensure they offer a broad variety of green building materials.
What Is Green Building?
Green building involves using sustainable materials and practices in all aspects of construction, and is quickly establishing itself as the industry standard.
A study by the U.S. Department of Energy found that the country’s building sector accounts for 40 percent of the nation’s primary energy consumption, which means that efforts in this area can have a big impact on the environment overall.
Why Should Retailers Sell Green Building Materials?
There are many reasons that modern retailers should try to sell as many green building materials as possible. Below are some of the top benefits of offering a broad range of eco-friendly materials.
Customers Want Environmentally Friendly Options
Although the government is now pushing for green construction, many customers have long been seeking these types of materials because they value the environment and want to do their part to protect it.
This is a shift that is being seen across all industries, from food and clothing to vehicles and construction. Sustainability has become a major selling point in recent years.
Green Buildings Are Energy-Efficient
Many people seek green building materials because green buildings are designed with energy efficiency in mind.
For example, solar panels can make use of energy that comes from the sun, while windows can be designed in ways that allow as much natural light in as possible, thereby reducing the need for artificial light.
Approaches like these allow homeowners to save money on their energy bills, and it benefits the world overall as non-renewable energy sources like coal are expensive and cause pollution.
Green Building Materials Last Longer
Green building materials are sustainable, which means they will be longer-lasting than other materials. This also has the effect of reducing maintenance costs and upkeep, which are two very big considerations for consumers when choosing building materials.
Some examples of long-lasting materials include bamboo and cork flooring, natural fiber wool carpeting, reclaimed wood, metal roofing and low-flow plumbing fixtures.
Reusing products in the form of reclaimed or recycled materials means that fewer of the planet’s resources are depleted, energy that would be needed for manufacturing new materials is conserved and waste is reduced.
Although not everyone will be able to have a home that has been built entirely of sustainable materials, more and more consumers are looking at making as many aspects of their home as sustainable as possible to reduce their personal carbon footprint.
Green Buildings Are Healthier
Another reason many consumers are turning to green building materials is out of an interest in protecting their health.
People who live and work in green buildings enjoy the health benefits that are gained by using safe construction materials.
For example, an eco-friendly construction company will not use plastic byproducts that are known for releasing toxins into the air that can impact breathing or raise a person’s chances of getting cancer. They also tend to use products like laminates that are made without toxic glues.
Indoor air quality is a big consideration when selecting green building materials. Green buildings tend to use non-toxic materials with minimal chemical emissions that resist moisture to prevent the growth of biological contaminants. These materials typically only require simple, non-toxic methods of cleaning.
It Supports Your Local Economy
Many green building materials are sourced locally as this reduces the cost and energy consumption required for transporting goods across the planet.
Selling locally-made products to your customers allows them to save money on the transport expenses that are normally passed on to consumers from goods created further away, and many people recognize the importance of keeping their money within the local economy.
Going Green Improves Resale Value
Another incentive of using green building materials is that it improves a home’s resale value.
Studies have shown that third-party certifications for sustainability help homes to sell faster and for more money, and many buyers feel better purchasing a home built with the planet in mind.
Reach Out To The Green Building Product Suppliers
Going green reduces the environmental impact of transporting, fabricating, extracting, installing and disposing of materials. If you are interested in expanding your offering of green building materials, reach out to the friendly team at Curtis Lumber & Plywood today.
Our green building products are known for their sustainability and craftsmanship, allowing your customers to enjoy the many benefits associated with green building.
