News / Business
Beware the Green Certification Controversy
Online Programs Scramble for Credibility
Here's an easy test. Pretend you are "Joe's World Pollution Distributor," and see if you can't get through some of these online certification programs. Why? Because these sites are simply money sinkholes. They can sell an online logo costing maybe $5 for $500 to unsuspecting businesses. There is no audit, no validation process, and if there is ... you can bet the eco-consultant sent to you is there is sell you a bunch of Green goodies! They are not auditors. They are using this scam to trick you into buying their overprice stuff.
The shame of it is that this is not a game, but has become a new way to exploit a crisis for gain. The public rejection of these programs should be strong and harsh. Yet, these websites are anxiously spending money on very attractive websites, adwords, and even justify their value on online "self-assessment programs" that they falsely call "audits." Come on, how many companies are going to fail an audit that they control?
Online Green certification programs are grabbing at the public attention by buying Google adwords while lacking enough credibility to build the organic search of their website. Sure, one day, they hope to be legitimate; but the effort now is to fool as many people as possible. If enough businesses buy into their program, they hope to be justified by the success they garner rather than the quality that they produce.
The Green Business League stands as the singular company that requires a live audit for every single Green business certification awarded. They proudly say, that a GBL Green Business Certification is, "Earned, and not Bought." More than 300 trained Certified Green Consultants are spread across the United States, Canada, and Mexico to provide onsite guidance and certification.
It has been accurately said, that "You cannot prove what you cannot measure." If so, how can unproven Green business certification be credible? They are an oxymoron of this generation that begs for some investigative reporter to blow the lid off these phony Green certifications. LEED, ISO, GBL, UL, and other credible certifications require a trained verification process before certification is issued.
The buying public should ask one question of any Green business. "Where did you get your Green certification?" If it was a free certification from a ad hoc local committee or something anyone can buy off the Internet, walk away in disgust. These programs are designed to fool the consumer, and it is time to let these cheats know that you are onto their lying ways.
For a free report on Green Certification scams, please visit: http://www.greenbusinessleague.com/content/green-certification-scams
