We hope you had a great 4th of July weekend! With Independence Day still fresh in our minds, we thought this would be a great time to discuss some of the benefits of buying American made products. There are many benefits to buying locally produced American products, but here are a few of our favorites.
- Buying?American Stimulates the Economy, Employing Americans
In light of the current economic crisis (particularly in the building products industry), every dollar that we can spend on American-made products can help boost the economy and keep our fellow Americans working.
? - Local Businesses Give Back to Their Communities
Many American businesses are heavily invested in their local communities and want to see them thrive. Purchasing products from these local companies allows them to give back to the community through donations, volunteering and more!
? - American Standards Promote Environmentally Friendly Manufacturing
Many national, state and local standards are in place to help?regulate American manufacturing processes and promote environmentally responsible manufacturing. These standards include?reducing energy use, pollution, and other effects that manufacturing can have on the environment.
? - American Products Require Less Transportation
Foreign products require large freighters and jet planes to get them to the United States. These methods of transportation require a lot of fuel, increasing carbon emissions which can harm the environment. Buying locally reduces the impact of transportation, reducing the?environmental impact of the products used.
? - Local Products Can Be Easier to Recycle
Many American companies have already implemented stringent recycling practices within their organizations for manufacturing waste as well as post-consumer materials. Recycling products at the end of their life?helps to reduce the amount of raw materials needed for new products.
?? - Buying American Products Can Help Qualify for Green Building Programs
Many green building programs, such as the NAHB Green Building Standard and LEED for Homes, award points for the use of materials produced within a certain mile radius of the project site. This helps ensure that the environmental impact of the product is lessened by impact from transportation.
These are just a few of the reasons that we encourage?the purchase of American made products. So next time you are ready to make a purchase, consider a product that is made in America, by Americans, for Americans.
