I just returned from the NeoCon show in Chicago.

As can be expected, sustainability/green was a major part of the buzz. I spoke to a representative from one company that had undertaken an initiative to make all of its showrooms certified by the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program. Some in the company were surprised to learn that the announcement generated the equivalent of a collective shrug: LEED certification was expected.

Still, despite the industry buzz, a company's willingness to go green is still an individual decision governed by unique ownership issues. Another manufacturer recounted a story with a health care facility executive. The company had talked about the benefits of using a greener product over the life cycle of the building, only to find out the facility executive wasn't interested. The building had been changing owners every four or five years and with each change came a new interior design. First cost was paramount in purchasing decisions, not how green a product was.