photo credit: frozenchipmunk
My family recently decided to upgrade our kitchen and replace our old out-dated cabinets and we were considering going “green.” We thought one factor might keep us from doing our part to help reduce our carbon footprint, and that was the cost associated with going the environmentally friendly route. These questions arose: If there is such a thing as “green cabinets,” where would we find them and how much would they cost compared to standard cabinetry?
We eventually located a manufacturer of cabinetry that did not add as much to the greenhouse effect as most cabinets may. To our surprise, the cost of upgrading our kitchen cabinetry with low impact cabinets wasn’t too much more than traditional cabinets. Once we began to research going green, we realized how important it is to do our part…and how not considering environmentally friendly products adds to the greenhouse effect.
In fact, we found a lot of information that suggested if we chose not to go green, we’d end up paying more in the long run. As it turns out, we’d pay a little extra now and benefit considerably more in the future because of the unseen pay-off. What I mean by pay-off is specifically the benefits green products produce as a by-product, so to speak.
New cabinetry puts out formaldehyde continually, especially within the first year. Formaldehyde can be toxic, is an allergenic, and is carcinogenic–that is, it can cause cancer. Because formaldehyde resins are used in many construction materials (including cabinets), it is one of the more common indoor air pollutants. At concentrations above 0.1 ppm (parts per million) in the air, formaldehyde can irritate the eyes and mucous membranes, resulting in watery eyes. Formaldehyde inhaled at this concentration may cause headaches, a burning sensation in the throat, difficulty breathing, as well as triggering or aggravating asthma symptoms.
Just the costs associated with any health problems that may arise from being exposed to formaldehyde can offset the premium price of environmentally friendly cabinetry. If someone develops cancer as a result, the extra cost is priceless, in my opinion. Any time away from work, school and free-time because of any illness that may be a result of exposure to formaldehyde 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 must be considered as hidden expenses that can possibly be attributed to formaldehyde exposure. If you’re following this, and if it turns out these costs are a direct result of such exposure, the choice of going green adds to paying for itself.
My family has come to realize that we really need to change the way we think about our carbon footprint, being as environmentally friendly as our situation allows and doing what we can to find green products that are as effective as non-green products.
As a small business owner, I can appreciate how thinking “locally” can be more productive for the surrounding community and eventually for my own family. What I mean by that is nothing more than what goes into the local economy eventually comes back around to my individual family and friends. The ways that is true are endless and go round and round.
Being 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 bit more expensive, but in the long run most definitely worth the investments of money and time.
One of the articles that convinced us can be found at evergreencabs.com/articles/costofgoinggreen.htm
Czach H.
