1% for the planet. Why we feel the need to give back

We only get one planet. This is one of the few things we can probably all agree on yet as a society we don't act like it. Each year we only increase the strain we put on the planet and the few steps we take to mitigate our impact hardly seem a drop in the bucket.

The construction and buildings sector is a major contributor to the impact we as people have on the world. According to the Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction (Buildings-GSR), a report published by the UN Environment Programme in 2024 the construction industry was responsible for

• 37% of global carbon emissions
• 36% of final energy use
• 23% of air pollution
• 40% of drinking water pollution in the US

In addition to this the construction industry in the United States produces over 600 million tons of debris each year.

Consider that these are current figures and also take into account that Globally the construction industry builds an additional 2.6 trillion square feet of new floor area each year.

At Strange Bird we strive to build using sustainable practices. We believe that building sustainably isn't just good for the planet but creates a better home. That being said we also realize that construction will always come with an impact.

Because we benefit from this impact we feel that it is our duty to use some of the money we make to support causes that give back to the environment. Just as we pay income tax we also are committed to an Earth Tax. This tax takes the form of a commitment to contribute 1% of our annual sales to local environmental groups. While we didn't invent this idea we are proud to contribute and we felt that it deserved space on our web page. By writing it down for all the world to see we are holding ourselves accountable while also encouraging others to consider how can you contribute to making sure we still have a planet we want to call home for years to come.