EDITION-1
In August, Lloyd Alter came up against the limits of his environmental convictions when he had to replace the leaky roof on his house in Toronto
“For years, I said I would install a reflective metal roof,” because it helps to reduce heat and lower energy costs during the summer, said Alter, an architect who writes about design for Treehugger, a sustainability-focused website. But “when push came to shove”, he said, “I bought asphalt (one which costs almost half of the metal roof & from a petroleum-based material)”.
It is the kind of reality check that many eco-conscious consumers face these days. And like Alter, most have resorted to cutting their spending on a variety of items, particularly green products, which typically cost more than their non-green counterparts and can be difficult to justify, or even afford, when budget are tight.
In a bad economy, what used to seem essential can quickly become optional. At the same time, what was merely fashionable can become a matter of necessity.
BY-STEVEN KURUTZ
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