It’s Easy to DO Green

Joy Dorst, FCLD
CEO
Design With Joy
joy@thegreenguru.org

Many of us are working green professionals in a greener and greener world. Green is the “in thing” and as green professionals it is time to consider how green our green practices are. We know the most common ways to go green at home such as recycling, using environmental-friendly products, and reducing gas consumption. We have a golden opportunity to do green at work by determining which business practices are already green and which ones need greening. Let’s look at the top 3 areas to green our business.

Energy Independence – Energy efficiency is patriotic. $700 billion dollars leaves our country a year for the ever rising purchase price of foreign oil. Do your part: choose a few small steps for your business that together will take a giant leap for American energy independence. Tip: Think twice, drive once is the catch phrase for multi-purpose journeys that combine trips to effectively reduce travel and waste products for a light footprint on the planet. Carbon dioxide emissions are at their highest levels in recorded history, covering over 650,000 years.

Reflect on Your Water Ways – The demand of water is outpacing the supply so we need to reflect on our water ways. Florida is not running out of water, but it is running out of cheap potable water. Florida landscape professionals have the honor to create and maintain water efficient landscapes that collectively will reduce environmental and professional stress. Tip: Florida Water Star conserves water and reduces storm water runoff with responsible landscape, irrigation and indoor practices. If only 500 homes were built to Florida Water StarSM standards and saved 95,000 gallons each, 47.5 million gallons of water would be saved every year.

Jobs – Mitate is a powerful Japanese term for me, it means ‘to see anew;’ new vision, technologies, and practices. A green professional knows that there is a season for everything and that all things change. Our businesses practices are not immune from change. Those that adjust their businesses and ways of doing business will flourish with ease. Tip: Turn to technology to augment job skills with online learning courses delivered over the Internet or "hybrid" courses that combine traditional classrooms with online elements, thus reducing class and travel times. Online courses consume nearly 90% less energy and produce 85% fewer CO2 emissions.

All I am saying is to give green a chance. Meet me in the 2008 Landscape Show, Green Zone, and I will introduce you to professional programs that can help you ‘do green’ with ease and recognition. Establishing and marketing your green services with environmental management practices is easy to do.