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Green Products and Services Gain Support as Issues of Global Warming and Environmental Contamination Escalate
EnvironmentStocks.com – Green Building Responds to the Growing Demand for a Clean and Healthy Environment
Ann-Marie Fleming, www.EnvironmentStocks.com
January 2007
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As issues of global warming and problems associated with environmental contamination continue, a growing movement towards ‘green’ products and services are rapidly becoming a key component of the building industry. With global awareness improving through political support, media coverage, and overall education, the rising popularity of environmentally safe products and materials have received a boost, creating opportunities for sector participants such as International Barrier Technology Inc. (OTCBB: IBTGF; TSXV: IBH), manufacturer of environmentally friendly fire resistant building materials.
Buildings have a significant impact on our environment and our economy, which is why there is growing support for improving processes to reduce waste and costs, improve efficiency, promote better health and reduce the effect on the environment. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, buildings in the United States account for 65% of electricity consumption, 30% of greenhouse gas emissions and 30% of raw materials use. Buildings also consume 12% of potable water and produce 30% of waste output.
With global warming at the forefront of environmental discussions, reducing greenhouse gases, and improving energy efficiency have helped drive the adoption of renewable energy as a viable option
for green buildings. Solar technology in particular has found its way into buildings helping to create onsite energy generation utilizing a renewable and environmentally safe system.
Outside the energy focus, considerable attention in the green building arena is also being given to protecting the environment from hazardous chemicals through the use of products and materials that are non-toxic. Areas where healthier choices can be made include materials such as fire-retardants, paint, carpets and cleaners that are environmentally safe.
Research data reveals the risks of toxic chemicals with evidence continually being discovered in areas such as the Arctic where fish, polar bears and other animals are showing escalating signs of chemical contamination. Many man-made chemicals enter our water systems, soil, and air during manufacturing, use, disposal, as well as through leaks and fires. These environmentally harmful substances are known to reach great distances, contaminating areas far from the original point of entry as they travel through air and water.
Once chemicals enter the food chain they accumulate and become significantly more concentrated. According to WWF, animals such as seals can have contamination levels millions of times higher that those present in their surroundings, and polar bears, which feed on seals, can show levels more than three billion times higher than the contamination levels their environment reveals. Recent evidence shows poisoning by chemicals commonly used as flame retardants in household items such as carpets, furniture and clothes with data showing a connection between contamination levels in polar bears from the flame retardant polybrominated diphenyls (PBDEs) and the growing rate of hermaphroditism in polar bears.
Dr. Michael Huddy, President and CEO of International Barrier Technology, Inc. (OTCBB: IBTGF; TSXV: IBH) explains, “It is not only the reality of harmful chemicals entering the food chain, but it is also the perception of chemicals and the possibility that they might get into the food chain that is creating interest and frenzy about harmful fire retardant treatments. People are becoming more and more concerned about their health and the health of their environment and are making decisions based on this reality. Due to the fact that International Barrier’s products have no harmful chemicals, with all of our materials being environmentally safe without any risks of leaching out into the groundwater, we have established a valuable alternative choice for designers and builders.”
As consumers and businesses become more aware of the risks that many commonly used chemicals can pose on our environment, the shift towards adoption of non-toxic and environmentally friendly products have increased and are rapidly playing a bigger part in today’s commercial and residential construction as well as daily activities.
New construction and also retrofits are benefiting socially, economically and environmentally from the implementation of green products and technology. As buildings are increasing its use of non-toxic chemicals and integrating purification systems such as air and water filtration, in addition to helping to protect the environment, businesses are seeing a positive impact through increased worker productivity, and an overall improvement in health and morale, turning an environmental focus into solid business practices.
Ann-Marie Fleming
Ann-Marie Fleming completed her MBA in the United States, where she attended Webster University. She also holds an Honors B.A from the University of Toronto. She has over sixteen years of experience within the financial industry to include retail banking and brokerage, investment banking, and mortgage brokerage within the United States and Canada, with a firm background in corporate research.
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