GreenBiz.com featured an article on the disjointed nature of sustainability programs being perceived as central to an organization's future, but if they are not one of the CEO's top 3 priorities, few if any actions are taken.We agree with GreenBiz that without top level "buy in", any significant impact in the reduction of an organization's carbon footprint or energy expenses is unlikely.
We'll show you how to give your projects a fighting chance...
Organization leaders have more on their mind then you think and the larger the organization, the more executives need to rely on those below them to distill information to basics of profit and loss impact and rate of return on investment.
This is where most sustainability programs never make it off an executive's desk. Unfortunately, what executives typically get are monstrous reports that cover everything from recycling programs to alternative energy proposals and most of the numbers are "estimated" savings over 5 - 10 years.
To get your sustainability plan's through the executive suite or the board room, you'll need to prioritize, compartmentalize and monetize your green vision into 2 pages or less. This may seem impossible, but what is really impossible is getting a busy executive to read more then 2 pages!!!
Below is a blueprint for translating your green report into a green ($$$) proposal. THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN SKIP YOUR HOMEWORK. You should have a "full" report ready in the wings to backup this proposal if requested. That report will cover in detail all aspects of the project outside of the the consolidated information below.
Title: "Cost reduction Proposal" - frame this in terms of money not carbon, or trees, etc.
Project Summary: Description of what and where the project is being implemented and what type of costs it is cutting. This should only be a few lines.
Current Expenditure: Tell them how much the problem or existing conditions are costing (monthly, annually, over 3 years) Briefly explain how you verified this is indeed a real expense.
Cost Savings: Tell them how much in $$$ this will save (monthly, annually, over 3 years) Briefly explain how you verified this will directly curtail the current expenditure.
Necessary Investment: Tell them how much in $$$ this will cost.
ROI: How fast will this pay for itself. If you're thinking of multiple projects, go for the one with the fastest ROI first. The faster your first sustainability project makes it into the black, the faster you can drop the next "cost reduction proposal" on their desk.
Success Tracking: Discuss how you will track the success (in $$$) and report it back to them.
Fore Information: Include where they can access the full proposal or report where you can write about saving the polar bears and improved employee moral to your heart is content.
Also use pictures and tables if possible, to future focus the executive on the problems or the results of the proposal.
