Every time you go shopping, you probably notice several products that tout themselves as being “green” or “good for the environment”. How can you tell which claims are genuine and which aren’t?  Greenwashing When a product is purposefully misleading about its level of environmental friendliness, it’s called greenwashing. Often, the products are at least partially green, but the labeling exaggerates just how much, which equates to false advertising. This isn’t a new development, either. It’s been around for at least 20 years, but since demand has gone up for green products and services, it’s become very prevalent over recent years. Fortunately, there are quite a few ways that you can spot it before you buy the product. How to Spot It Reading labels and researching brands may seem time consuming at first, but eventually, it becomes habit. To start, keep these warnings in mind as you shop:
  • Vague claims about its recycled content and concentration on the fact it’s recyclable
  • Industry-standard manufacturer processes being called green
  • Long ingredient list filled with chemicals whose names can’t be pronounced
  • Builders only using one or two green practices instead of a holistic approach
The biggest red flag is if there are many vague claims that can’t be verified by a third party. Legitimately Green Fortunately, there are environmentally conscious home improvement contractors and products which are fully committed to being as green as possible. The best way to spot them is to look for certification from LEED, FSC, GREENGUARD and Minnesota’s GreenStar program. The company should be willing to provide you evidence of their certification upon request.

Energy Star labeling always helps identify the appliances and windows with the best energy efficiency, but you can only make the least environmental influence during your remodel when green building practices are used.

At Quarve Contracting we believe that green remodeling is about what's better for Minnesota and it's citizens.  We're committed to working with green building practices and offering eco-friendly home improvement solutions, because in the long run we all benefit when protecting our environment matters.