Kermit was right!?!

I was at a meeting a few weeks ago, the meeting of course was on "greening" the community. One of the members of the committee said, "Kermit wasn't right, it is easy being green." We I'm here to say to the contrary, "It ain't easy being green." Why might I say that? No, it's not because I am trying to convince potential clients to use Eco-Green for their green consulting. It is because as I wade through the seemingly endless websites, news articles, press releases, government documents, and tax information, I realize that it is really confusing stuff. Sure there are people out there all the time telling every one that if they just buy this or do that they can reap the benefits of a state and federal tax credit. They don't however tell them how to obtain that tax information and what forms they need to fill out.

Then we come to the renewable energies, solar PV, solar thermal, wind, micro-hydro, and geothermal. Now it took me the time to get a college degree before I could say I was qualified to design and install landscapes, but it only takes a couple days in a short course and you can be "certified" to design and install a micro-hydro unit. Frankly, I want someone with a little more experience telling me what I need to spend my money on. Then you get into certifications and does your product meet SRCC OG100 regulations, if not then you can't even qualify for tax credits.

There are people pan handling Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT) as the revolutionary wave in small wind technology. Most have not been thoroughly tested. They say they are lower maintenance than your standard propeller turbines, but physics says its just not possible (centrifugal forces).

Bottom line, make sure you get a life cycle assessment on whatever you purchase. How long is it guaranteed to work, what are the maintenance costs associated with it, is there a pay back period, what is the actual tax credit/reportable depreciation value, are there any limiting local or state ordinances that must be followed. There is a lot of homework involved and the simple answer is, No, it ain't easy being green.