November 03, 2009 8:08 AM CST

Green Getting its Due

By Jennifer Morrell

As an editor, my personal sign that green building is here to stay is the fact that I no longer need to include quotations marks around the word green. People aren’t going to read stories about going green and think it involves a can of paint from Sherwin-Williams. Likewise, A&E folks, developers, contractors and consumers are aware of the importance of being green, not only because it’s seen as socially and professionally responsible, but also because it’s a platform to showcase an additional and important benefit of building with masonry: sustainability.

As the Masonry staff heads to Phoenix this month to attend Greenbuild 2009, I reflect on the last four to five years and am amazed at how far the construction industry has come. Not only are we making the effort to understand LEED requirements and what it truly means to build green, but also we are embracing the idea that we are helping to secure a healthier environment and future for ourselves and our children – impressive.

In the November issue of Masonry, we report on the latest efforts of the Natural Stone Council (NSC) to show how natural stone is a green material. In “Sustainability Through Natural Stone,” you’ll learn what the NSC is doing to move natural stone ahead as a sustainable material in a Q&A with John Mattke, NSC co-chair and chair of the council’s Sustainability Committee.

Also included in the issue are two stories outlining the basics on levels and measuring (see “Lessons in Levels” and “The Lowdown on Measuring Devices”). Another subject we examine in this issue is insulation – how it affects you as a mason contractor, and why it should be on your radar (see “The Skinny on Insulation”). You also can read about the MCAA’s highly successful Midyear Meeting, which took place in San Diego in September.

We hope to see you at Greenbuild in Phoenix this month. But, if you are unable to attend the show, you can read coverage of it in Masonry. As an aside, I just looked up the word green at www.dictionary.com. One of the entries for the word under the “adjective” heading was “environmentally sound or beneficial.” How gratifying.

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About the Author

Jennifer Morrell is the editor of Masonry magazine. She has several years of experience in the publishing industry as a writer and editor, covering such topics as real estate and development, health care, relationships and sports. A graduate of The University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in magazines and is an award-winning columnist.