The Cost of Health CMI is committed to partnering with vendors that use products and methods that are friendly to the environment, says Bill Masche, president of Under Construction Services Inc., CMI’s sister company which provides construction services. CMI purchases lumber only from certified forests, where lumber producers have a plan for harvesting and replanting trees.
With the energy crisis in California, energy-efficient products have become more popular, says Masche. While the company has always recommended the use of energy-efficient furnaces and boilers, Masche points out that the little things really make a big difference, such as energy-efficient lighting or tinted windows. These energy-efficient tools might cost more to install, but the benefits and the cost savings balance out in the end.
CMI didn’t blindly start using environmentally friendly supplies. The company spent two years researching product availability and cost, explains Tim Broms, president of CMI.
Some management companies might balk at the cost of environmentally friendly products, like low volatile organic compound paint, but the cost is only about $1 to $2 more per gallon, explains Broms.
In the past, this type of water-based paint was thin, sometimes requiring two coats of paint for proper coverage. But now, the technology to make the paint has improved and one coat is sufficient, says Carlson.
Many of the environmentally friendly programs that CMI has implemented carry the same price tag as traditional products, says Michael R. Egelston, president of Sensible Earth Communities Inc. (SenEarthCo), a sister company that provides online management tools.
For instance, the lawn care program doesn’t necessarily cost more; rather, it hinges on what people are willing to put up with, says Broms. Environmentally safe lawn products sometimes take up to three years to produce lush green grass, and during that time there are weeds.
“We have not chosen to go with the green alternative for lawn care,” explains Dan Greenstein, vice president of Cedar Lake Shores Townhome Association, a client of CMI. “It’s not because of the cost, but because of the amount of time it takes to get a lush green lawn.”
However, the board has taken advantage of the CMI’s online management tool, which is part of both CMI’s commitment for a “paperless” work environment and its dedication to technology. While Carlson realizes that the company could never be 100 percent paperless, she is committed to cutting down on the use of paper – technology is one way of doing that.