Green Home Scams in Flagstaff?

I had a visit from a product salesperson here in Flagstaff recently that caused me great consternation. Obviously, I was picked for the sales pitch because I’ve recently been certified as an Ecobroker^©. Apparently, the thought was that I had checked out of the real world when I got the Ecobroker^© certificate.

Here are my thoughts for evaluating any allegedly eco-friendly product:

1. Is it being sold by a company that has been around for a while, has a good name and reputation, and is licensed by the state in which it is operating to do business? Check the Secretary of State for incorporation and business license documents.
2. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints about the product or company.
3. Ask the sales person if he or she can explain the science behind the technology being offered. Ask for written explanations that can be checked out.
4. Ask for references to efficacy studies done by university, government, or non-profit professional or building certifying agencies. Make sure those references are legitimate.
5. Is the product EnergyStar Certified?  ENERGY STAR products are the same or better than standard products, only they use less energy. Information is available on from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
6. Check products on the U.S. Department of Energy website: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
7. Will the product be installed and serviced by a licensed contractor? Check the Arizona State Registrar of Contractors to make sure the contractor is licensed and for any history of complaints.
8. Does the product sound “too good to be true,” but is still waiting to be discovered by the general public. If the product really works, some good business person has probably picked it up, put some serious capital behind the marketing, and is selling it legitimately. With the internet, word of mouth doesn’t take long for good products to get around, get financed, and start being sold at Sears.

Going green is a great strategy; just don’t leave your common sense behind.