Jonas Hochstetler isn't going
green. He's already there.
You could say Hochstetler and
his family-run company, Appalachian Woods, have been in the
"recycling" business for nearly 20 years. They take old
wood, fix it up, and put new life into it.
The crew re-uses all kinds of
wood from oak to chestnut. The wood is taken from old
buildings and houses. "If we go out into a building, we
utilize about 90 percent of all the wood in that building,"
said Hochstetler.
If it wasn't for Appalachian
Woods, it would be destroyed and people are willing to pay
for this ultimate form of recycling. "It's getting some
exposure and people pay a premium for salvaged wood,"
said Hochstetler. "Some people are willing to buy this
material simply because it's recycled."
Hochstetler was
"green" even before green was "in." Now, new businesses are
hopping on the bandwagon. EcoDry Cleaners opened in
Charlottesville in May. The company uses carbon dioxide to clean
clothes, rather than a harsh, hazardous chemicals.
Only about 15
percent of dry cleaners in the country do it, but the ones that
do have tapped into a marketable trend. "People are actually
coming up to me and saying thank you for opening and they're
really sincere," shared EcoDry Cleaners Marketing Director Ty
Cooper.
Whether it's
environment-friendly cleaners or earth-conscious flooring, the
end result is all about going green.
