Going Green: Steps Toward Sustainability
Improving the sustainability of your organization has many benefits. It can reduce your operating costs, help you regularly meet requirements and improve your public image. Like any business goal, however, improving sustainability requires planning. Here are steps you can take to achieve your sustainability goals.
Establish clear objectives
Clearly define what sustainability means for your business. That definition could include reducing carbon emissions, minimizing waste, improving energy efficiency, supporting social causes or a combination of two or more of these. Make sure your goals are SMART — specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-based. The SMART framework pairs well with a great process used in the quality field called the "plan, do, check, act" cycle.
Develop a plan
Establish and implement an action plan that outlines the steps your organization will take to achieve your sustainability goals. The plan should include detailed strategies, timelines and accountabilities. Resources are needed to achieve your goals. Make sure your plan includes realistic budget estimates for each step as well as a means for providing the necessary financial backing.
Engage staff
Long-term sustainability requires the cooperation of everyone in your organization. Engage employees at all levels in sustainability efforts. Provide education and training to help them understand the importance of sustainability and how they can contribute.
Measure progress
The adage "you can't manage what you don't measure" is as true of sustainability as it is of any other business objective. Implement procedures to measure and monitor progress toward sustainability goals, which could involve tracking energy use, waste production, carbon emissions and other relevant metrics.
ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® is a no-cost online tool that can help you track your energy performance. Just answer some questions about your facility and energy use. You'll receive an energy performance score, which you can use to establish a baseline, set goals and monitor progress.
Review and adjust
Things are constantly changing, and your sustainability plans should reflect that. Review your sustainability objectives and action plans regularly and modify them as needed to ensure that they remain effective and aligned with your business goals and the changing environment.
Communicate your success
Publicizing your sustainability successes can help maintain momentum for your program and build support. Regularly communicate progress toward sustainability goals to staff, customers, vendors, investors and the community at large.
Green building certification is one way to demonstrate your organization's commitment to sustainability. Achieving widely known building certifications — such as LEED or ENERGY STAR® — will not only help focus your sustainability efforts, but also provide visible evidence of your success.
Finally, there's the ISO 26000 Corporate Social Responsibility standard on which you may want to model your program
Sustainability is not a one-time effort. It requires a commitment to continuous improvement. Always look for new ways to improve the sustainability performance of your organization.
We’re here to help with all of your energy-saving needs. Contact us and see how we can help.
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