Green Philosophy
Sensibly
Sustainable is not just a slogan to Karas Construction; it is indeed a
philosophy. A sustainable business today has to be aware of its
impacts in many areas and not just on the bottom line. A new term
referred to, as “The Triple Bottom Line” is our goal. A business that
is economically sustainable first, and environmentally sustainable second,
then socially responsible third, will be the model of success in the world
to come.
I
am proud to be the
founder of Green Building in this area. As chairperson for a county
committee I began market research for a green building program in 1998.
In the year 2001 the fledgling program awarded the very first green building
award in the state of Michigan. Since then I have stayed at the
forefront of this segment of the industry, culminating in my Frankay Way development
in Big Rapids.
At Frankay Way I wanted
to show by example that a home could be built with character, be super
insulated, and still be affordable. My goal for all the homes there was to
stay under $100 per sq ft. The project sold out to critical acclaim in
three years, and I had proven my point. Pictures of homes from Frankay Way
are on this site.
So if we work together,
it will have to be in a way that incorporates a sense of respect for our
actions. We will use materials wisely, consider our long-term carbon
footprint, and make a pragmatic plan to achieve a triple bottom line
success. This may sound a little rigid, but I own the company, you are
welcome to come along on these terms.
