The latest trend of “going Green” is showing up more and more in commercial business as this article in CoStar points out. I’ve been working more and more toward involvement in the commercial sector and it’s interesting to see many of the same trends coming into commercial construction as into the residential side of things. I’m not sure which one of these sectors tends to lead within this particular topic of sustainability and earth-friendly resources but I can say that it’s impressive to see a certified LEED building and the beauty that can be found of the materials used in its construction. Seattle has a few of these buildings in place right now (such as 5th and Madison). In my own homes and properties I try to do as much as I can to reduce/reuse/recycle too including the choices of materials used in maintaining or updating my environment. Recent products I’ve purchased for remodels in various properties have been cork flooring, engineered wood floors, bamboo flooring, energy-efficient appliances, rain barrels (rain run-off recapture for use in the garden), Eon decking material (composite with a 50 year minimum life span and no maintenance requirements), etc with many of these products coming from green building supplier, Contract Furnishings Mart.
