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My family recently decided to update our kitchen and replace our old outdated cabinets and we were considering going “green”. We thought that one factor might prevent us from doing our part to help reduce our carbon footprint, and that was the cost associated with going the green route. These questions arose: If “green cabinets” exist, where would we find them and how much would they cost compared to standard cabinets?
We eventually located a cabinet manufacturer that didn’t contribute as much to the greenhouse effect as most cabinets. To our surprise, the cost to update our kitchen cabinets with low-impact cabinets was not much more than traditional cabinets. Once we started researching ecology, we realized how important it is to do our part… and how not considering organic products increases the greenhouse effect.
In fact, we found a lot of information that suggested that if we chose not to go green, we would end up paying more in the long run. It turns out that we would pay a little more now and benefit considerably more in the future due to the invisible reward. What I mean by profitability is specifically the benefits that green products produce as a by-product, so to speak.
New cabinets continually emit formaldehyde, especially during the first year. Formaldehyde can be toxic, it is allergenic and carcinogenic, that is, it can cause cancer. Because formaldehyde resins are used in many building materials (including cabinets), it is one of the most common indoor air pollutants. At concentrations above 0.1 ppm (parts per million) in air, formaldehyde can irritate the eyes and mucous membranes, causing watery eyes. Inhaled formaldehyde at this concentration can cause headaches, a burning sensation in the throat, shortness of breath, as well as trigger or aggravate asthma symptoms.
The costs associated with any health issues that may arise from exposure to formaldehyde alone can offset the premium price of green cabinets. If someone develops cancer as a result, the added cost is priceless, in my opinion. Any time away from work, school, and leisure time due to any illness that may be a result of formaldehyde exposure can eventually add up to a lot of money. Unexpected medical bills, a few days away from work, and missing a test at school may not have immediate or direct costs associated with them, but should be considered as hidden expenses that can possibly be attributed to formaldehyde exposure. If you’re following this, and if it turns out that these costs are a direct result of such exposure, the choice to go green pays for itself.
My family has realized that we really need to change the way we think about our carbon footprint, be as environmentally friendly as our situation allows, and do everything we can to find green products that are just as effective as the products. not ecological.
As a small business owner, I can appreciate how thinking “local” can be more productive for the surrounding community and ultimately for my own family. What I mean by that is nothing more than what goes into the local economy eventually comes back to my individual family and friends. The ways in which it is true are endless and go round and round.
Going green allows us to take ownership of our local economy and encourages a smaller overall carbon footprint. How can that be bad? Yes, maybe a little more expensive, but in the long run it is definitely worth the investment of money and time.