Developing Your Plan - Chapter 5

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Going from an idea to a fully-fledged plan can be quite a daunting process. It is nearly always easier to decide to do something that it is to actually go about doing it. In this chapter, we are taken step-by-step through the process of creating a greening plan. In order to create a plan to get your business somewhere, you must first know exactly where you are. Measurement is key to understanding what you are doing now, and to see what changes your green efforts are making. There are a great many things to measure: the usage levels and costs of water, electricity, paper, lightbulbs, et cetera. Because of the overwhelming nature of trying to go green all at once, this chapter recommends that you start with one item—say, water usage—and go from there. Nothing will leave your efforts dead in the water like feeling overwhelmed.

Where do you think you will start? This is all preliminary, so it doesn’t matter if you’re not sure yet. If you don’t know where your journey will begin, try to start prioritizing things that you can change and make more efficient (greener) in your business.

[Marty]

I felt this chapter needed to come after Part II of the book - Each time the author started to talk about measuring your energy use or writing the plan - it seemed like she kept saying..."but wait...you need the information in Part II before you do this" Sort of made me feel like I was wasting my time on this chapter - that I should just move on to part II and then come back & read Chapters 5 & 6

How did it strike all of you?

[Hope]

I know exactly how you feel. It was hard to stay focused when it seemed to be missing so much information. I think that I'll come back and take another look after having read part two--maybe it will go together better that way. It almost seems as if part two should have been part one, then there wouldn't be any of these organizational problems!

[Shelby]

I would like to introduce a new "green" alternative every month. So once I have a made a habit after focusing that month on the new alternative I can introduce others in the following months so they become the new norm in my business and way of life. For the first month I will focus on recycling. I am going to pay more attention to what I consume and find ways to recycle, reduce and reuse. I will start recycling paper and introduce less-toxic supplies and materials; yikes especially since I have a newborn in my home office now. I will refill computer ink cartridges rather than add them to the landfill.