Sustainability May Mean Resurgence for Manufacturers

Domestic manufacturers haven’t had the easiest of times throughout the recent recession. However, there may be room for hope. A story from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the growing sustainability movement could mean some huge opportunities for manufacturers.

One company, Unico, which manufactures small-duct, high-velocity heating and cooling systems, said their sales have been down since 2009 but the green building projects have formed something of a new market for them.

“We’re seeing a broadening of our market to high-efficiency homes and even commercial projects, such as restaurants and retail stores,” said Scott Intagliata, director of marketing and son of the company’s founders. “Everywhere we go, we’re seeing a continual drumbeat of interest on the part of end users who want energy efficiency.”

The Unico system is compact and efficient, but not cheap. It generally costs about 25 percent more than a conventional heating and cooling system, Intagliata said, but it also qualifies for some incentives.

Has your company made moves toward sustainability? Email Hal Conick at [email protected]. We’d love to hear how going green has helped your business.