zmotion

Is there quantifiable evidence that green is gaining momentum? The question only requires that you take a superficial look around in the business community to see it. Business leaders know that flexibility and adaptation to changing circumstances are the fundamental aspects of corporate survival.

Today, natural resources conservation and socially responsible practices are playing a major role in project planning. In fact, it is a fairly obvious requirement for a well-run organization today, whether large or small. As energy and material costs rise, evidence of this truth is even more accentuated.

If you want to know whether sustainability is a high priority, you first need to understand what pressures accelerate the process of moving toward green business trends within a company and across the nation.

Employees in their 20’s & 30’s

The most obvious source of pressure is the younger generation of employees. According to the 2006 Cone Millennial Cause Study, an impressive 83% of millennials (those born between 1979 and 2001) place greater trust in organizations that are socially and environmentally responsible. Those who missed the seventies and eighties era of excesses are often stunned by the lack of conservation practices by the older generation. They have been well enlightened in conservation and environmental awareness since they were elementary school age.  Studies of human-resource patterns show that employees in their 20’s and 30’s are more prone to believe in companies that take responsibility for the environment. In fact, a poll conducted by Mortgage Lenders Network USA reports that 94% of all Americans prefer to work in a setting that is designed to be energy-efficient and ecologically sound.

Customer Base

The second most likely source of pressure to go green is your customer base. A company may be losing market share by continuing to provide products that were previously highly regarded but by today’s standards are not considered to be green. Organically grown fabrics, locally grown produce, energy-efficient appliances and non-toxic materials are all suddenly taking the spotlight and turning heads – innovations created by, you guessed it, employees in their 20’s and 30’s. Consumer pressure will continue to be a dominant force for corporate change.

Financial and Insurance Institutions

More subtle but economically convincing pressure can come from financial and insurance institutions. Funding for a new venture is more easily obtained from some lenders if it has an environmental link, especially for construction projects. These same greener projects can be more economically insured with discounts provided by major insurers.

Corporate Leadership

The most compelling pressure, but more difficult to quantify, could come from the personal convictions of one or more corporate leaders. All that needs to be said is “It’s just the right thing to do.” This is a push that will have sustained impact and continued support since it comes from policymakers within to permeate the entire corporate culture.

A prime example of this type of executive pressure is the Texas Instruments chip fabrication plant in Richardson, Texas. The facilities planning team was told to reduce the construction budget for the new plant by 30% as compared to the last one built a decade earlier. The team took it upon themselves to suggest a sustainable design that would also save operating costs. Integrated design helped the team beat the 30% capital-cost goal and achieve significant, long-range operational-cost savings. The facility reduced energy use by 38% and water consumption by 35% through extensive reuse and recycling. The attention to energy recovery resulted in fewer boilers, which led to an emissions reduction of 50%. Local materials and products with recycled content were used for construction and 90% of the construction waste was recycled. Much of the landscaping was created with native plants that require no irrigation and minimal maintenance. The facility is the first LEED Gold certified chip plant in the world. The overall savings benefit to the company is projected to be $4 million a year on a net $1.5 million investment, a savings of $2.67 for each dollar invested.

Numbers don’t lie. They tell us that green is big and getting bigger. TI’s building project clearly illustrates that you can take green to the bank and continue to do so year after year. Job creation and corporate growth will be linked to green initiatives for the foreseeable future. Because green is more efficient and better for us all, we can see on the horizon quality of life improvements that will launch us into a truly sustainable future.

The Benefit Corporation is an answer to an evident problem. Corporations rise and fall with the quarterly earnings report. Corporate directors and executives are responsible for only one thing – a nice fat bottom line for the shareholders. It is a driving force and when safety and the environment would urge more cautious progress — as we have been witnessing with the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster — all the warnings get cast aside to bring in the mother lode.

The game takes some effort and ruthless determination, but the rules are simple: push the profits up and push the cost of doing business down — you win. Let profitability slip a few points below forecasts — you lose. The pressure is so high that you might find yourself on the street looking for a new job because of an unexpected bobble. It doesn’t matter if the public or the environment or even your own employees suffer because of your decisions that fatten the company coffers. You have not broken any laws and, most of all, you have satisfied the one criteria that reflects the goals of corporate perfection.

US corporate law states that it is the legal obligation of the directors and officers of a company to serve the interests of its shareholders. The only way to protect the public from avaricious corporate behavior is to change corporate law. A handful of states have adopted a new category of corporation called the Benefit Corporation. It made its debut in 2008 and over 300 companies have signed on to become a Bcorp. To instill public confidence in corporations, we will most likely see more and more states offering the B corp designation and very likely by 2011 hundreds more corporations will be opting for the alternative to get their B badge.

What does it mean to be a B Corp? ~

So who wants to be a B? A list of corporations that now have official B status are proudly displayed on bcorporation.net. A Benefit Corporation will be rewarded with tax incentives and it will maintain its status through its commitment to responsible and sustainable business practices, efforts to care for the environment, participation in community projects and the general safety and benefit of its employees. Its leadership is still expected to be profitable and to achieve short term goals, but more importantly, to focus on long term goals.

Innovation should result in the benefit of all. Whatever benefits a community will ultimately benefit the individuals in the community. Whatever benefits the environment will at some point benefit humanity. Whatever benefits humanity will result in sustainability.

Two prime examples of Benefit Corporations are Greyston Bakery ~

and Southern Energy Management ~

An investment should be more than just an instrument to gain personal wealth. Of course, if you didn’t believe it would be profitable, it wouldn’t be a wise move. Right? What if you were to think of your investment as an action/belief statement about your core values? What you do with your money actually says more about what you believe than what you say.

If you know that the capital you invest is going to result in harm to innocent people, but you do it anyway because it is reported to give a good return — well, you know what that is. It’s just wrong! Something doesn’t have to be illegal to be wrong. Why not make a quality decision to invest in ventures that accomplish what you believe in?

I believe that I can only commit the resources at my disposal – time, energy, money – into products or businesses that are sustainable, life-giving and socially responsible. I wholeheartedly recommend that you do the same. I have put a great deal of thought, research and soul searching into ideas that will benefit the world we live in and future generations. I believe that we must turn the corner – effect paradigm shifts and make the hard decisions that our grandchildren will enjoy and, hopefully, we will be able to enjoy.

Want a great example? Meet a company that has become a world leader in solar energy manufacturing and installation — First Solar, headquartered in Tempe, Arizona. They are a publicly traded company and I quote from their own company release, “Protecting the environment and conserving natural resources are at the forefront of First Solar’s mission and core values.” Over 2 gigawatts of solar electric power has been produced by them and they just had a record-breaking year.

Because of their commitment to manufacture and install low-cost, high output, high longevity products, they are not only a major producer of renewable energy products, but they are pushing toward the goal of lowering the cost of solar panels to under $1/watt. Additionally, they have established an aggressive program to recover and recycle damaged or replaced product from previous installations so that sustainability is inevitable.

Green building practices, green agriculture, green energy, green industry, fresh water projects are all sustainable endeavors for the economy of future generations. Markets will reflect the decisions that investors make. We haven’t even begun to see what can happen in 10, 20, 50 years if we make up our minds to do it and to devote whatever resources we can into it.

Why you do something to bring about positive change is more important than what you do. The ‘Why’ motivates you to see a project through to completion. The ‘Why’ causes you to do a better job. The ‘Why’ turns a technical project into a bright future for children who have no way of enjoying a healthy lifestyle unless you do what has to be done to ensure its success. My ‘Why’ is children deserve better.

I believe that every child deserves a healthy environment. They deserve a daily supply of fresh water and nutritious food. They deserve a mother and father who provide a safe and stable home environment and give them educational opportunities to become healthy, happy, responsible and productive citizens. They deserve a government – local, regional and national, that is dedicated to preserving these ideals. Unfortunately, children don’t always get what they deserve, but it doesn’t change the truth that children deserve better.

Every initiative is worthwhile that will raise the percentage of children who are getting what they deserve. Every child deserves better. It is up to you and me to promote these ideals and collaborate with those who are working to encourage a sustainable life for all children of all nations.

That is the ‘Why’ of zmotion and Sustainable Life for All Nations.

Love the Journey

The destination may be ever so sweet, but it will be so much more enjoyable if you really pour your full energy and passion into the journey. Solomon said it this way: “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” [Proverbs 4:7]

The thing about learning and searching is that, after intensely applying yourself to get understanding, there is infinitely more to learn than you thought when you began. The road to discovery is far longer than you ever imagined. Even if you get to the end of the journey and you don’t regret a thing, you will know that it could have been better. Do your best; you only have so many chances. Sometimes you only get one shot to hit the target.

Let this post be an opportunity to step back for a moment and get a fresh perspective on yourself. Make a quality decision to never stop growing, learning, discovering. Years ago I had a teacher who said it this way, “You have two choices in life: Keep growing or keep getting older.” To keep growing is the secret of a sustainable life.

Be wary when someone offers to do what only you can do. There are things you can’t do, so either get yourself prepared to do those things or depend on someone else to do them. You can’t control what other people do, but you can control what you do. If you make a mistake, just admit it and get it right. You are your own best prophet, so expect the best. Say what you believe and believe what you say.

Do what others are unwilling to do. Make the necessary sacrifices without expecting the praises or the collaboration of others. When you succeed, there will be both praise and criticism. Do the right thing instead of the easy thing. Push for excellence. Leave a legacy. Do it for your children’s children.

Don’t join the club. Make the tough choices. Don’t settle for just getting by. Don’t go along with the majority just because it’s popular. Chart your own course:

1. Plan with detailed goals. Follow the plan.
2. Set your priorities. Make appointments to keep them important.
3. Water and feed your vision with research and development.
4. Manage your time. Only you can schedule your journey.
5. Collaborate, communicate and brainstorm with your team.
6. Celebrate every success. Celebrate with your team. Tell others.

At the end of the day, how do you answer these questions:

1. Are you fully content with the decisions you have made?
2. Will others benefit from your decisions or will your decisions benefit you alone?
3. Grow and live; stagnate and die. Choose wisely.

People do what they do because they believe what they believe.  Faith is the driving force of every culture. It is my belief that the Creator of the universe had you and me in mind when He began to think about His plans for the earth and for life on the earth.  Since He is and always has been perfect in wisdom, knowledge and understanding, His plans and purposes are established and will prevail even in the face of confusion and destruction.  It is obvious from what He has said that His plan is for there to be sustainable life on earth.

As I travel, I make it my daily goal to align myself with His plan and purpose for my life, even when I cannot see where He is leading me.  I want my dream to be His dream. “Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand.” (Proverbs 19:21)

This is my zmotion vision.