So we know that people are willing to weather the rough economy and buy green in order to go green, even if it costs a little more. But what if you could go green and still save green? With only a short time before a new school year starts, here are some eco-friendly and budget-friendly tips for buying green school furniture:

1. Buy from a company which specifically uses factories or distribution facilities closest to your location. The closer to the factory or distribution point you are, the better chance you’ll have of saving on the shipping costs.
2. Buy multiple rooms of furniture at one time instead of ordering one room at a time over an extended period. Needless to say (but I’ll say it anyway), multiple shipments force trucks and other shipping vehicles to use more gas than they’d use for one trip to deliver a single shipment. And if you order in bulk, you’re more likely to save money as well.
3. Contact other schools in your area, order your school furniture together at one time, and have it shipped to a single local spot where everyone can pick up their products. Again, combining your orders means less gas expended into the atmosphere as vehicles transport and deliver your furniture, since everything goes to one address instead of multiple addresses.
4. Find out the factory’s policy on packaging. Do you they use popcorn, bubble wrap, or greener shrink wrap? Shrink wrap creates less waste than many other packaging options, so see what you can do to make a positive environmental impact every time you order.
5. Learn about your manufacturers and find out what materials they use. For example, facility floor mats made by the Andersen Company feature recycled content in their rubber backing. Just like you, many green furniture manufacturers care about the environment and offer products that contribute to a sustainable way of life for everyone, including students, teachers and parents. Identify green brands and support them through your patronage.

Hopefully these tips can help you get off to a green start for the new school year. While it takes work to implement an eco-friendly plan, remember that everything you do today can lead to a cleaner and healthier school in the years to come.

(Photo via Morguefile)