December 1, 2009 For IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
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Mandy Leazenby, LEED AP
Green Program Manager
TRA Certification, Inc.
800-398-9282
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Mike Knaack
TaigMarks Inc.
574-294-8844
Cell: 574-360-0080
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Green standards - what they affect and why they're good for business
"A green RV incorporates environmental consideration and resource efficiency into every step of the development and manufacturing process," says Tom Arnold, president of TRA Certification Inc. "The design, construction and operation of a green RV focuses on energy and water efficiency, resource-efficient RV design and materials, and indoor air quality. A green assessment of a company and its product takes into account the entire impact of both processes and product on the environment - it is a holistic approach to the production process."
Saving Money
Going green also has benefits beyond pleasing customers, says Arnold. Cutting back on unnecessary waste and utilizing resource and energy efficient products also saves money. Stuart Hart, director of the University of Michigan's Corporate Environmental Management Program, wrote in Northwest Environmental Journal that, "Wasteful and polluting throughput practices lead to inefficient use of material and human resources as well as occupational and public health risks." Thinking green, in fact, is thinking bottom line in terms of more efficient, cost-saving practices - something on every company's front burner these days.
Two-Step Evaluation
In that regard, TRA's certification process can be an educational evaluation for any company. The first step is to certify that the manufacturer is green capable. TRA goes to the factory and looks at what's going on with a company's processes. That includes examining recycling programs and manufacturing methods to ensure the company is able to produce RVs compliant with green standards.
The second step is to examine the materials and appliances that go into making an RV in order to certify that a specific model is green. In this and other ways, TRA can be helpful in determining exactly what is green and what isn't. "Any supplier can claim to be green. However, company personnel may not have time to research these claims. We do that for them. As I've noted, companies may also be doing things they don't realize are green. In such cases, we can give companies more to talk about and it's not just blowing smoke. They can back it up with our certification and standards. That gives them a great message for today's consumer."
"With all the environmental concerns that have developed, we clearly need to do whatever we can to protect our earth and the surroundings that we know and enjoy," says Arnold. "Building green is simply the right thing to do. But companies also need to look at it as a business opportunity. This is the direction in which the world is heading. Companies need green business strategies to make sure they are on the leading edge of this new movement. We're here to help."
For more information contact Mandy Leazenby, TRA's Green Program Manager, at
800-398-9282.
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