Sometimes it seems too easy to characterize those who are categorized as "green" or "environmental" or "conservationist" or "pro-sustainability" as "nut-cases", "tree-huggers", well-intentioned but poor or unethical business people. Too often we "greens" make it too easy for others to characterize us as such.
Recently I received as a member of State Senator Rodriguez's Sustainable Energy Advisory Committee a link to a web site. It was sent I'm sure as food for thought. Unfortunately it was just bad science and anyone in the industries that we often take to task - whether engineer or administrator or manager - would be the first to point a finger and say that "greens" just don't know what they are talking about. The link sends you to a page that begins: "Free Energy Live In Action!" Anyone with a simple science education will tell you that there is no such thing as a perpetual motion machine. There is no "free energy." It violates the Laws of Thermodynamics.
I also hear from time to time about "green" companies that practice rather shady labor practices. That again is too bad because reputable businesses and organizations that promote LEED standards, or GI/LID or conservation are accused of guilt by association.
If green is going to prevail with the general public, greens must have the highest scientific and ethical standards and not make sweeping generalizations and un-scientific claims and practice business unethically. Sustainability isn't snake oil. It's real medicine for for a sick world in a lot of pain.
Perhaps we "greens" need to police our industry much better than we have been.
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