Ensuring sustainable products and practices

MCS Influencer Holly Gotfredson says prioritizing sustainable products from the very beginning will mitigate cost overruns without sacrificing the eco-health of the building.

MetalCoffeeShop® is incredibly proud to act as a bridge within the industry, connecting and supporting people in all different parts, from manufacturing, to technology and more! One of the ways we do this is through our Influencer program. This program helps industry experts share their knowledge and experience with others about current topics in the industry.  

More and more frequently, we are seeing an emphasis placed on sustainable development. This interest is in a variety of areas, such as more energy-efficient systems, more eco-friendly products and more environmentally friendly job sites. So, for April, we asked our influencers about how contractors can use sustainability in their business and sales. 

This is what Holly Gotfredson, who has over 19 years of industry experience and is the owner and president of both American Metalcraft and Finishing Dynamics, had to say in response:

Thankfully, industries across the board are starting to pay more and more attention to products’ short-term and long-term impact on the environment. This is especially true when it comes to construction, manufacturing and project delivery. Contractors that take time to really listen and understand the owner and designer’s sustainability goals from a project’s inception will deliver a successful and eco-friendly building.

Should unexpected and unforeseen budget issues arise, prioritizing sustainable products from the very beginning will help the GC understand the best options to mitigate cost overruns without sacrificing the eco-health of the building. Selecting domestically produced and sourced products that utilize recycled material and content will help meet sustainability goals. Selecting from products that offer an HPD (health product declaration) and an industry wide or product specific EPD (environmental product declaration) is another way of ensuring the most sustainable products.