As sales of green building products go up, prices come down
Construction companies are increasingly turning to green products, and saving greenbacks in the process. It’s still widely believed that eco-friendly products are more costly than their not-so-eco-friendly counterparts, but that state of affairs is changing. Carpet made of recycled plastic and floor boards composed of wood pulp can now be acquired for less than traditional carpet and wood floorings, for example. Says Scottish architect Douglas Murray, “Of course the reasons people compromise on their environmental principles are invariably financial, but you really can build a ‘healthy’ house without spending a huge amount more.” Architect Kristi Ennis of Boulder, Colo., agrees: “It’s an emerging market and the costs for these [green] products are coming down because people are asking for them.”
