Green on a Budget
It often feels as though "going green" in terms of building materials is perceived as much more expensive than conventional. We are constantly brainstorming amongst Refuge staff how to dispell that notion and increase the public's understanding that sustainable materials are not always more expensive. In fact, often times, environmentally friendly materials are less costly. When we say this, please note that we are comparing Refuge products to conventional products of equal quality.
Many consumers don't factor in durability when making a purchase which is critical in terms of understanding a product's true cost and also determining if it is truly sustainable. If a particular product needs to be replaced in two years or even five years, it may end up costing more in the long run via replacement costs. The expression, "you pay for what you get" will certainly ring true. Having to throw something into the landfill quickly does not hold up to our definition of sustainable as well.
Another advantage of making the up front investment in quality building materials is the additional value to your home. When it comes time to sell, potential buyers will appreciate the use of sustainable and beautiful materials. We love telling customers that our top selling counter top is made of 100% recycled paper - what a conversation piece!
To further drive home the affordability of green materials we've done a comparison to illustrate the cost savings in using Refuge products over conventional material in a 2,500 square foot home. Click here to see our comparison chart and the cost savings of almost $2,100 in choosing sustainable materials.
In looking at the "cost of going green" we stumbled across a lot of interesting info out there on the world wide web and blogosphere. We've included some fun links to share to a variety of different web pages. Enjoy!
http://ecomama.squarespace.com/eco-articles/2008/5/10/the-low-cost-of-going-green.html