Results Oriented Community Advertising - Setting Tables Up Everywhere!

So along with everything else I'm doing for this company I was considering taking a completely different approach with our marketing.

We are doing mainly direct mail & ppc right now but conversions haven't really got to a point where we have consistent business coming in every single day.

So I was doing a ton of research (we are in the energy audit/energy efficiency niche) and found this website which completely got my attention.

www.greenmarkets.com

I have never even considered this type of approach to advertising energy systems and love the thought of it! They run CFL exchanges, donating CFLs directly within the community to find new customers.

This would allow our business to go directly into these communities, and find business. It also appeara to be a very reliable way to generate leads. Problem is I've never done anything like this before.

My boss was thinking about investing a few hundred dollars in CFLs. We can set up banners "Go Green, Save The World" then donate CFL's to the community and as people get their CFL's, collect their information and screen which homeowners would make the best candidates for systems. Then of course contact them.

Considering I've never done this before I have a bunch of questions about how to implement a system like this.

1) Would this be hard to set up in churches/beach clubs/golf clubs? Or really anywhere within the community? Considering we won't be doing any active selling, and just donating to collect information. I think people would view us more like a charity than a business no?

2) Has anyone ever tried a community oriented approach like this? Is it a lot more work than it seems? I'm thinking, if we can just get into a few high traffic events, that operate on consistent intervals, this could potentially become a GREAT way to get leads for our business.

3) The place I linked to. Do they appear to have any type of relationship with the state? I noticed a sign on one of their tables saying they work for PSE&G, the electric company basically. This kind of killed my motivation a bit, thinking in order to do this we many need some type of state endorsement or license?

4) The main areas we want to hit are boardwalks nearby the beach as spring time is on its way and TONS of people hit up the boardwalks in NJ. Then we were thinking sporting events, churches/faith based organizations, hospitals, lobbies, sidewalks, parks, movie in the parks, really anything where there is a large gathering of people.
So once again the question here is how do we get permission? Should we just call all these places and ask? I mean for a place like a park who in the world would we even talk to?

5) Last question. I'm trying to do the math here and obviously have a few concerns. Greenmarkets seems to have a system tied up with PSE&G where PSE&G actually pays for the CFLs, and the main problem is I have NO IDEA how many CFLs we will have to donate on avg to just collect 1 qualified lead. I'm worried about what happens when we run out of CFLs, can we just stay where we are and continue to promote energy audits/energy efficiency to the community, or would we need to reup everytime we run out?

Am also afraid about attracting crowds of people just looking for free stuff.

However here are some benefits that I think could work for our favor.

1) We'd be viewed as a charity doing something positive for the community.
2) A lot more potential to build trust with people especially if we hit up places like faith based organizations.
3) People would almost be forced to talk to us, and learn about energy efficiency, as I think most people who get the bulbs would want to stay and talk for a minute, rather then just do a "hit and run". I'm sure lots of people WILL just get the bulbs in leave, but I think operating this way just has a lot more potential to start conversations with people.

We can give them a pitch about all the facts of CFLs, then turn the conversation over to other measures they can take in their home.

So has anyone tried something like this? What do the vets think about this idea? Is our business not in the right spot to try this? Would be need to be endorsed by a major electric company like PSE&G or do you think we could just go out and do this on our own?

I'm so fuzzy about the rules with this which is my main concern, and how hard this would really be to set up and start generating leads with. Am thinking we can even train college kids to set up tables in nieghboring counties, and just go crazy generating leads.

For that company to be able to generate 3027 leads in 2010 (greenmarkets.com), using a community oriented approach, that tells me nothing will be able to provide leads as consistent as a strategy like this. I've thought about door to door canvassing too, but I just don't like the idea of knocking on peoples doors whatsoever. I'd prefer they were out and about, LOOKING for things to do. Then we just happen to be right by them. =]

Good idea or no?