Q: Can you discuss why it is so important to keep jobsites clean? A: My grandfather and father owned grocery stores. To compete with the national chain stores we had to win them over with service. My key job from ages 8-17 was to keep the store cleaner than the competition. Parking lot, windows, store aisles, bathrooms, etc. was my territory. I took pride in doing a great job. I really believe keeping all facets of a business clean and organized is a leading indicator on how well a business is managed. When was the last time you went to a public restroom and it was spotless. My guess if you did you’d go back. It is the small details that make such a difference. I really thank my days in the grocery store for teaching me this. Green building is a great fit for me. Details matter. Including cleanliness. We now have an emphasis on recycling building materials. A plan for managing this is a must. We now have a system in place similar to your curb site pick up for recycling products at your home. We have taken a holistic approach to improving indoor air quality. We deep clean after all phases of construction. We also SEAL OFF THE DUCTWORK so that the ducts are debris free. WE DO NOT RUN THE FURNANCE to dry out homes during construction. This makes a huge difference to the indoor air quality once the home is complete. Our clients love this. Recently, my twin brother gave me a terrific gift. Somehow he found an old grocery bag. On the front is: GIROD’S SUPERMARKET —with a smiling box boy dressed with an apron and bow tie handing a bag of groceries to a pleased customer. I suppose he meant that to be me. Build well and enjoy life. Please submit questions to jon@quailhomes.com Jon can be reached direct at 360.907.5800. Tune into Green Building with Jon Girod on 1550 a.m. on Saturdays at 9 am. See you next week!