Green Community Technologies: Alternative Technology Assessment for Rural Communities

Problem Rural communities must invest in a range of infrastructure to support public services. Decision-making regarding municipal investments is often made by part-time, volunteer community leaders who lack access to up-to-date information about alternative technologies and approaches. In addition, federal programs promoting alternative technologies are often focused on urban areas, with limited resources to address rural differences in scale, capacity, and financial resources. Furthermore, technologies are always changing and improving, making it difficult to keep up with them. Yellow Wood Associates is offering an assessment approach to small communities that compares the performance, cost and capacity of existing and proposed rural community municipal infrastructure with the performance, cost and capacity of alternative technologies and approaches. Our systematic assessment process helps communities in formulating cost-effective plans for phased implementation of appropriate alternatives. Plus, we can take communities from assessment to implementation by connecting them with companies and methods of financing. Rural communities can benefit from the Green Community Technologies service through cost savings, cost avoidance, potential creation of new employment opportunities, and environmental benefits.