Green Days Ahead Washington DC

April is here and with it comes a day that hopefully will all have us thinking about our world. No, I'm not talking about April 14th's "Look Up At The Sky Day" (which is an actual "holiday" — true story). What I'm talking about is Earth Day, which falls every year on April 22nd.

Believe it or not, Earth Day has been around for 37 years now, and the Environ-mental Protection Agency was formed as a direct result of the first Earth Day in 1970, when 20 million Americans took to the street in support of the environment and to protest harmful environmental practices.

However, with the daily hustle and bustle of trying to run a business and all of the overwhelming headlines of war, poverty, and scandal, it is easy to overlook an event like this, which becomes a 30-second feel-good news byte on our favorite morning show. But, not only is taking time to think about our environment important to preserving our world for future generations, it is something companies like yours can actually benefit from.

While you could rotate your employees so that half are always riding power-generating stationary bikes, it may be a little more reasonable to make an impact by looking at some of your shop practices and also considering getting in touch with the "Green" movement.

One thing that is relatively simple to establish is a recycling program. Sure, you may hear some grumbling about having to sort soda pop cans from other trash, but it can have a major impact when widely practiced. Another thing to consider recycling is your fall-off. Some companies that have done this not only get the satisfaction of being environmentally responsible, but have also generated additional revenue to pay for the effort that goes into their programs.

Obviously, if you are working with solid surface, saving scrap is saving money. Because solid surface seams are nearly invisible, mistakes can often be fixed by using matching scrap. Quartz surfacing and granite scraps can hold value, too. I have heard of companies that save their granite scraps and turn them into pavers, which they bundle together and sell to homeowners wanted unique walkways with a high-end look. Also, many companies are adding value to their countertop installations by providing matching cutting boards or trivets from scrap material, which can go a long way in impressing your customers (and can ultimately lead to referrals). You can find a lot of dxf files for this type of thing ready to run on a CNC at thefabricatornetwork.com.

Going a step further and including a green product in your offerings may have even more impact. In some major U.S. markets (notably both coasts), environmentally responsible products are very hot and whole industries have developed around them. Last year we ran an article on the green movement and some of the green products available to fabricators (see the July/Aug. 2006 issue or the online version at the www.surfacefabrication.com archives), and it bolstered a good response. There are plenty of options out there to look into.

Another good source of information is greenhomeguide.com, which has a "buyers guide to green countertop materials." While the information is geared toward end users, there is quite a bit of good information there (http://www.greenhomeguide.com/index.php/knowhow/entry/641/).

Whatever your plans for Earth Day, I hope you will be cognizant of your impact on the world and do something, even if it is just a small effort. The worst thing we can do is ignore the issue, which will affect not only our lives and our children's lives, but all of the future generations that will inherit the problems arising from the shortcomings of today.

As always, I look forward to your feedback.

Sincerely,

editor@surfacefabrication.com