Honest to Green

When the green movement started gaining in popularity for my generation several years ago, I started seeing recycling bins, reusable water bottles, and bicycles around every corner. Every store I walked into had an item in new packaging labeled “NEW, ECO-FRIENDLY DESIGN!” It was hard not to resist purchasing these eye-catching products in order to help our Mother Earth and, lets admit it, for the cool factor. I was positive that by this point, everyone in the “green” business was making lots of green too. Because of this view, I was admittedly surprised when Daniel and I sat down with Michael Gatz, owner of The Green Building Shop in Baton Rouge, LA, and asked him how his business handled the “green boom.” His reply, “Business is pretty steady.” I found it odd that during a time when being eco-friendly is so popular and many people are theorizing that green businesses hold the jobs of the future, that his business wasn’t being completely overwhelmed. An obvious answer, and one that Gatz believes is a strong component of the problem, is the housing crisis and the decline in building. But there are people out there who are still building, or even just remodeling, and we wanted to know why those people aren’t waiting in line to get into Gatz’s shop and others like it. We also wanted to know why they should be and what changes could be made in order to get them there.

First and foremost, we needed to learn about the products that The Green Building Shop had to offer. So far, they have products such as countertops made from recycled glass and paper, bamboo flooring, and even chemical free wool carpeting. According to Gatz, these products are “greener” because they are made from fast-growing renewable resources or from recycled materials. For example, one of their products, PaperStone countertops, is made from post-consumer recycled paper and petroleum free resin. Furthermore, Gatz says that bamboo flooring is eco-friendly because, essentially, it’s a grass. It only takes bamboo about four years to grow to maturity compared to the twenty plus years it takes for an oak tree to grow to harvest height. These products sounded great but I had to ask, how much more expensive are they compared to more traditional goods?

Unfortunately, and this is one of the reasons people probably aren’t banging down the door, the answer can be quite a bit more. For example, speaking of the cheap prices for bamboo flooring found at Lowe’s and Home Depot, Gatz says, “It’s hard to compete with that. The price of our bamboo flooring is about one and half times theirs.” That price comparison might sound like a game changer but there is an important catch that you must consider if you think of yourself as a true green fiend. You see, people like Michael Gatz, those who honestly care about the “greenness” of their products do a lot of research into what items they offer.  They make sure their products have all of the appropriate certifications and endorsements verifying that the item was produced in an environmentally friendly way. Gatz continued by explaining why his bamboo is more expensive, “Now, what they [consumers] don’t realize unless they do the research is that our bamboo is certified by the FSC, which is the Forest Stewardship Council. It’s the way that its harvested, manufactured, and everything else to keep it green.” The Forest Stewardship Council is an internationally recognized non-profit that gives certification to those it thinks are acting responsibly on about ten different principles involving the usage of the forest. Unlike EcoTimber (the brand of bamboo found in The Green Building Shop), many of the bamboo flooring that megastores carry are “greenwashed,” or made to seem more eco-friendly than they really are. The manufacturers call their bamboo flooring “green” just because it’s bamboo, not because they are responsibly caring for the forests from which they come or using environmentally friendly harvesting methods. They also don’t take into account how far away they are shipping from (It takes a lot of fuel to get from China to here!). They are cheaper products because they are made in a cheaper way, by not taking full responsibility for the forest from which they come. If more people became aware of the age-new trick of “greenwashing,” I think they would be more inclined to shop at stores where all of their products are certified truly green.

Another reason people might not be flocking to The Green Building Shop is because they don’t really understand what “green” is. Gatz says that many people who come to his store are already educated and already know that they want something environmentally friendly. He also said, though, that there are many people who think they are using green products when they really aren’t. “Someone once came in and told me that granite was green because it comes from the earth and well, that’s not true. Are they putting more granite back in when they take it out?” he joked. These kinds of presumptions clearly come from a lack of knowledge towards what really qualifies as a renewable resource. Granite does come from the ground but it is definitely not a renewable resource! So why not leave what is left there and try something that we do seem to have endless amounts of… used paper! Unfortunately, some people don’t trust having a countertop made of paper because they don’t understand it. Wouldn’t it change if it got wet? Well, no, these products have been made to withstand regular kitchen wear and tear and are just as durable as other types of counters. Furthermore, its way cooler to tell someone that your counter is made from recycled bottles of your favorite beer or from recycled paper than boring old granite! In the end, it seems like education is the key to the success of this industry and to the success of the environment.

Finally, if there is one last thing I learned from talking with Gatz, it’s that there are little, if not zero, monetary incentives for people to purchase green products. “Some people come in and want their homes LEED certified but in the end, it doesn’t really do anything for them. Its just a certificate on the wall.” Frankly, I believe that the government can make a serious difference by offering incentives or tax breaks to people who purchase green building materials. I know, I know, she said more government intervention, that’s terrible! But hear me out, people can get all kinds of incentives for installing solar panels, so why not by installing bamboo floors or from buying a recycled glass countertop? Of course, there are obviously long term monetary benefits from having an eco-friendly house, like lower energy costs and a smaller ecological footprint, but in today’s economy, people want and need more immediate results. I’m not an economist or tax expert by any means, but it seems like by offering a homeowner a little break on their property tax if they have installed bamboo flooring (FSC certified by the way!) could really encourage shopping at local eco-friendly businesses like The Green Building Shop and maybe even help save a forest full of mighty oaks.

In the end, a lot of education and a little monetary encouragement can go a long way. Truly eco-friendly building materials are a great solution to aiding our declining environment while still allowing us to live in a comfortable manner. It’s time to leave behind the “greenwashing” and build our homes using real environmentally friendly materials.

Thanks again to Michael Gatz, owner of The Green Building Shop, for talking with us!

Have A Little Fun!

It’s been a whirlwind week for us here in Louisiana! From time traveling back to a Renaissance festival to dancing to jazz music played on New Orleans’ streets, we have had quite the entertaining week. The fun never stopped when we got down to business by having our first two sit-down interviews of the trip with The Green Building Shop and Baton Rouge Green! As we move into our last week here in Baton Rouge, LA, we are certainly excited to be making the most of our time!

This past weekend we traveled with our friends Bryan, Julia and Jackson to the Louisiana Renaissance Festival. While it wasn’t quite what I expected (i.e. not the real Renaissance) it was definitely an interesting experience. Between modern-day innuendos set to a pirate tune and comedic jesters juggling fire, there were always entertaining shows to watch.  There were also plenty of challenging games where unsuspecting (and slightly over-confident) visitors could attempt a nearly impossible feat, like climbing a sideways rope ladder, and epically fail (ahem, Daniel and Bryan)! For a more authentic taste of the 15^th century, there were jousting events throughout the day and glass blowing tutorials during which the artist gave an interesting history of glass through the ages. In the end, it was more like a state fair where it’s totally normal to walk around in pirate garb and corsets than an event concerning real history, but it was definitely worth going to at least once!

My friend, Jackson, the coolest (and cutest) knight at the Renaissance Festival!

Having such an entertaining weekend was like pre-gaming for the week to come. On Monday night, Daniel’s dad flew in to Louisiana for a business trip but came a bit early so that we could see him. We had dinner at a great local seafood restaurant where Daniel and I both had alligator for the first time and I had my first taste of crawfish. Both were actually quite tasty! The following day, we headed to New Orleans to do some exploring. We wandered along the “Mighty” Mississippi and admired all of the massive ships docked or floating at its edges. We then moved towards the French Quarter and sat down for some delightful beignets at the famous Café du Monde. Strolling through New Orleans truly requires very little planning because there are just so many sights and sounds to take in. Walking around in and of itself becomes the event! There are musicians stationed at every corner that draw you in with their distinct tunes, be it jazz, country or even folk-rock. We loved it so much we wanted to stake out a corner for our favorite Richmond band, ROMA, and have them fly down and join! After a little bargain and window-shopping at some of the famous boutique shops, Daniel and I headed to the bus stop to catch the last bus back to Baton Rouge. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed our time with Daniel’s dad and with the City of New Orleans.

Daniel's dad, Steve, Angie and Daniel in front of the Mississippi in New Orleans.

 

Even though our “vacation” was over, the remainder of our week was reminiscent of Thomas Edison’s famous quote, “I never did a day of work in my life. It was all fun.” We sat down for two great interviews, the first being with Michael Gatz, owner of The Green Building Shop. He told us about everything from bamboo flooring to recycled glass countertops to authentic wool carpeting! Aside from the pure awesomeness of these products, we discussed reasons why these products have not yet become mainstream and what some possible solutions to these problems could be.

Later in the week, we sat down with Baton Rouge Green’s Executive Director, Diane Losavio and their program director Suzannah DesRoches. It was a beautiful day to discuss green places in Baton Rouge and that is exactly what we did.  We discussed the importance of trees in both economical and environmental ways. We also talked about the importance of city governments in making sure cities stay as hospitable to green spaces as possible. In the end, we left feeling very positive about the community’s desire to have and take care of the green spaces around them.

Coming Soon: In-Depth Articles about the interviews! (Possibly including video clips if we can get the technology right!)   :)

The Cost of Living Sustainably

Living sustainably has proven to be more challenging than anticipated. We know that in order to live a lifestyle based on that principle, you have to make an effort to purchase items that are produced in a sustainable way, such as organic and local foods. Purchasing products from huge, commercialized farms on the other side of the country does not help sustain your community or even your body in a healthy manner. Unfortunately, we have come across a couple problems in our pursuit to live in this manner.

The first predicament we have found ourselves in is the frequently cost-prohibitive action of healthy eating. Whether you’re at your local grocery store wandering through the organic aisle or meandering through the farmer’s market, you will typically find that the foods that you know are the best fuels for your body are frustratingly twice as expensive as the traditional product. When you absolutely have to save money but also desire the best for your body, what do you do? Do you give up the healthy food for junk so you won’t overdraw your bank account? It’s definitely a tough position to find yourself in and one that we know all too well. We don’t have all of the solutions and would greatly appreciate any other creative ideas to get around this problem, but here are some that we, with the help of others, have come up with:

First, think about the big picture. If you go to your local farmers market and buy some of their cheese, they will probably return the favor and come into your store to return the business. Don’t own your company? Well they still might come to your place of employment to do business, which will help to guarantee your next paycheck. The farmers need the business and will gladly deal with a friendly customer whenever they can. Secondly, Daniel and I stop using the “luxuries” as much so that when we do, we know we can splurge on the good stuff. For example, we love milk but instead of using it to make tomato soup, we will use water. It’s not as creamy but with a grilled cheese, it’s barely noticeable!  I also try and cut back on my beloved chocolate milk. Its something I definitely don’t need frequently and when I get it, it’s a real treat. Cutting back on the luxuries can save us a half-gallon a week, meaning we can afford organic milk since we aren’t buying multiple gallons of the store brand per week! Finally, and this idea came from our organic-minded hostess Julia, try and get to know your local farmers. Maybe if you go out to their farm, they will cut you a deal on their products. It saves them gas and they know that they will have a loyal customer in you. If none of these ideas work for you, just think about how much your body deserves this tasty, organic food and try to think of something unhealthy you can cut in order to purchase the good stuff. A block of yummy, handmade cheddar cheese is so much more scrumptious than a pack of cigarettes!

Angie buying Satsumas at the local farmer's market.

Lots of yummy and healthy foods available at the farmer's market!

Similar to the cost crisis of buying food locally and organically, we have found that buying non-edible products from local shops is unfortunately très cher as well. When you really want to support the community, it’s disheartening to find affordable products only at superstores like Wal-mart or Target. So, this is my plea to local specialty stores, please look into providing lower cost products to your customers. They don’t have to be new or fancy, they can be used or refinished, but please consider it. For example, Daniel and I have been bike searching for weeks and we really didn’t want to buy from a department store but we also had a small budget. We didn’t have fancy expectations and were completely fine with used but sadly, the bike stores nearby had practically nothing under six hundred dollars. Its not just bicycle stores, though. Specialty stores need to understand that there are still plenty of people out there who will gladly spend a small fortune on products because they take part in bike marathons or they are avid fine china collectors. I don’t think you will lose money by offering used or less expensive items; you will just win a whole new clientele. We really want to support you, so please give us the opportunity.

On a side note, the one way around this problem is a thrift store. If you do enough shopping and have Lady Luck on your side, you might find just what you are looking for and save a bundle! Plus, many thrift stores use their profits for charitable outreaches within the community and that’s definitely a bonus.

Living sustainably is not necessarily easy, but it isn’t really that hard either. If you prioritize your purchases and make an effort to go to local stores instead of just one giant one, you will usually find what you are looking for at a reasonable price. Furthermore, you will get the pleasure out of knowing you are doing right by your body and the community.