Federal, state and local regulations and incentives have allowed the green movement to keep going forward on commercial projects across the country even as the economy continues to be sluggish. Residentially, though, it is a whole other ballgame.

Automobiles and energy efficient products for the home—insulation, Energy Star rated appliances, programmable thermostats, compact fluorescent light bulbs and so on—notwithstanding, the economy has altered the average American consumer’s mindset when it comes to everything green.

What was just three years ago considered the start of a green revolution in the home, has now turned into a battle for lowering utility bills. It is not that consumers have abandoned the idea of living an eco-friendly life. Rather, as they struggle to make ends meet, they are being forced to make decisions based solely on saving money in the short-term compared to the long-term gains of being environmentally conscious.

Proving this mindset is temporary, studies show even though Mr. and Mrs. Consumer are undertaking immediate cost-cutting measures to get by, they are still demanding local businesses and corporate America be environmentally proactive in how they operate.

While some industries and individual businesses around the country have cited continued slow sales and their own rising costs as reasons to not be as aggressive in the green area, the flooring industry has taken the opposite approach.

From carpet to resilient to wood to tile to laminate to many of the sundry and accessory areas that play a major part in the flooring industry, manufacturers have continued to invest in research and development as well as the latest technologies to make themselves and their products the most sustainable and environmentally friendly.

As a trade publication geared to serve the flooring industry, it is easy for people to say Floor Covering News is biased and dismiss what we say as skewed.

That’s is perfectly understandable as this sort thing happens everyday around the world. So, instead of trying to decide if what we say is true, exaggerated or simply greenwashing for the sake of promoting the industry, we’ll let the vast amount of recognition from both the public and private sectors, the numerous firsts— and onlys—achieved by individual companies and sectors tell the story.

Enter The Green Guide. This is the third consecutive year Floor Covering News has published this supplement as a way to not only put the spotlight on the industry’s green initiatives, but to help educate and enlighten those who may not have been paying attention to what has been taking place right under their feet.

The Guide remains the industry’s first and only comprehensive, stand-alone publication on everything green. As with the first two, there is much too much going on within the multi-billion dollar flooring industry to mention in one place, so the publication gives more of a bird’s eye view on the various segments within the industry. And, like the previous two, this year’s Guide takes a new approach in helping readers stay current with what is happening in the world of green and flooring.

As always, Floor Covering News would like to take this opportunity to thank our generous sponsors for their support of the third Green Guide. They understand the green movement is a rapidly moving target and their customers must continuously be updated and kept abreast of what is taking place in order for their eco programs and initiatives to succeed.

For their support and generosity, FCNews thanks (in alphabetical order) Armstrong, Columbia, Healthier Choice, Mirage, Mohawk, MP Global, Pregis, Quick•Step, Shaw and USFloors.

To receive a copy of The Green Guide visit www.fcnews.net.