Season’s greetings to all, it’s time to reflect on the industry as we find ways to combat the decline of the economy. The green industry has taken center stage and has also become a profitable market for most. Looking back at 2008 personally I have seen more backyard manufacturing of products being labeled green, new DBA’s sprouting green buds of lack luster products, performance and knowledge are making waves in the industry establishing flags of caution for the experienced and legitimate green business and products. My point is a word of caution to consumers and designers. It used to be when there were layoffs and an adjustment in the economy a new lawn cutting or landscaping business would show up, everyone was a landscaper. These same small landscape companies did not have the experience and overhead that result in low ball bids making the Lawn & Garden industry a tough place to make a living, I know I did it for 23 years. The good thing is these start ups are not around long. Today it’s not the person with a new truck a trailer and a lawn mower; it’s a new “Green Business, Green Business Consultant or a green product”. It’s understandable that we all want to make a living and at this point retain our existing lifestyles or in some cases simply survive. Anyone with a lump of cash or a credit line can manufacture anything. Things to consider when hiring a consultant or thinking about using a new green product:
1. Ask what manufacture(s) they represent and if they are a certified manufacture rep / installer
and what is the certification process?
2. Ask for credentials, experience and portfolio (Does one project make a portfolio?)
3. Request references
4. Ask to talk to other employees, they can be brutally honest
5. Request research and long term data
6. Look for public media, not just press releases
In our business we have seen consultants and designers that simply do not have practical experience, in fact there are a few blogging that I wont mention. As forward thinking and positive our industry (green roofs and green walls) is do your homework when a green project is in your reach. Just because they attended a Green Roof class it doesn’t make them a green roof consultant or installer.
Insult to injury these are the people who have failures and make it difucult for the experienced. These are also the same people running around installing multiple or various systems not having a grasp on even one...these are the worst kind. The ones who will install anything to make a dollar.
Word to the wise.
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good stuff George. I catch myself all the time buying something because it says eco-friendly on the label, without really doing the research. It's so tempting to think that someone in the supply chain has vetted it, but it's not always the case. It's great to see more "green" stuff showing up in mainstream places, but makes it riskier that you're getting a raw deal -- overpaying and still not really doing anything good for the environment.
Of course the same is true for services, but with questions like the ones above you can at least smoke out the frauds more easily
- maxmsf