The world’s quantity of plastic waste entering the oceans now exceeds one million metric tons every year. While (according to https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-future-of-the-worlds-plastic/) half of all plastic waste is estimated to be recycled, incinerated, or disposed of in landfills, a significant portion of the remainder ends up with different fates ending up in water bodies or storm drains which deposit into our oceans. A huge number of pieces of ocean plastic waste has been observed to join together to form a vortex of plastic waste in the Pacific Ocean three times the size of France.

So here is a quiz. Which is the top country responsible for plastics found in our oceans? One would think it is the US where we make and use so much plastic and so much of our society is “single use and throw out” functionality. But the US is not number 1, nor is it in the top 10. The answer may surprise you. The #1 country from where the most plastic waste ends up in oceans is the Philippines (356,000 metric tons per year). Why? Because it is an archipelago of over 7,000 of islands which, therefore, has tens of thousands of miles of coastline and rivers feeding oceans from which plastic waste can easily enter. In fact, except for China, which is #3, all of the other top ten countries in plastic waste to the oceans are smaller developing nations with large coastlands, high rainfall, and underdeveloped recycling infrastructure (poor wastewater and solid waste management systems), such as India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Brazil, Vietnam, Bangladesh, etc. China generates 10 times the plastic waste of Malaysia, but only 0.6% of it reaches the ocean. The percentage in Malaysia is estimated to be about 9%.

Plastic products are relatively cheap and light weight and, therefore, can be used by people of all means. Most of the plastic waste found in oceans derive from discarded plastic in parks, beaches, or along streets which enter larger bodies of water by wind or by storm drains. Some ocean plastics derive from items used in fishing operations, too.

How can we reduce plastic waste accumulation in the oceans? The first, and most obvious, way is to reduce the use of plastics. Less plastics around means less waste. But plastics will not disappear. Thus, it is also critical to better manage the plastic waste generated. The problem here is that, as you see, the countries with the greatest access to waste in the ocean (those with large coastlines and river flow) are also poorer and are less able to implement robust waste management practices. While there is a popular movement to reduce foreign aid to countries to help them with their own problems, this is a problem that affects the US and other developed countries. So funds earmarked for improving plastic waste management infrastructure will not only benefit them, but the US and others, as well.

CCES can bring in solid waste management experts to help you manage this and other environmental issues for you. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or at karell@CCESworld.com.

Electric vehicles or “EVs” have become the darling of the clean energy movement. The potential greenhouse gas reduction of removing hundreds of millions of vehicles from the road and replacing their gasoline and diesel combustion with electricity from clean sources is a home run in reducing our unsustainable greenhouse gas emission rate. In the US, transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, electrifying cars and trucks is a key step to meet our climate change goals. Although there are logistical issues about powering batteries conveniently and finding the raw materials to make more batteries, EVs are growing tremendously in sales and is beginning to make an impact on climate change.

But there turns out to be an additional major benefit of EVs that is unrecognized and that is the improvement of public health. Researchers in California have shown that the reduction in immediate tailpipe emissions by the growth in electric car use is already keeping asthma patients out of emergency rooms. Besides reducing greenhouse gas emissions globally, the reduction in localized emissions from not combusting a fuel is having a positive public health effect. No combustion or its byproducts means zero carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, VOC, etc. emissions. These compounds, when inhaled, can lead to high blood pressure, emphysema, and asthma attacks. Air pollution contributes to as many as 200,000 deaths per year in the US. Vehicular emissions have an inordinate effect on these figures because of the release point of these pollutants, at the ground level, giving the atmosphere less of an opportunity to dilute the compounds before being breathed in by the public. Replacing internal combustion cars and trucks for electric vehicles would lessen the exposure to these compounds linked to health problems.

A recent study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment based on actual usage and admissions found that in California, every 20 zero-emissions vehicles per 1,000 people led to a 3.2% drop in the rate of emergency room visits due to asthma. The study did note that this decline occurred primarily in wealthier communities which have more people that can afford EVs. Poorer communities face both a higher air pollution baseline and fewer people with the means to drive around in an EV. The study examined many California communities, tracking electric vehicle registration and local measurements of nitrogen dioxide, which has been linked to respiratory problems and can trigger formation of other pollutants, such as ozone. In one area, EV registration increased 10-fold over a 7-year period, yet emergency room visits for asthma declined.

The study also noted that EVs can cause more of a certain class of air pollutants, particulate matter, as EVs are generally heavier than equivalent fuel-burning vehicles (weight of batteries), which can lead to more particulate emissions due to rubber meeting the road while they eliminate pollutants from their exhaust.

CCES has the experts to help you assess the air pollution from your fleets and from your stationary sources, as well, and to determine the most cost-effective ways to reduce your air emissions for the health of your staff and customers and to meet air pollution regulations and your permits. Contact us today at karell@CCESworld.com or at 914-584-6720.

Many building owners and property managers spend tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars on HVAC equipment to keep tenants comfortable (and prevent mold and other intrusions), and then think they can sit back and relax and let the equipment do their jobs. No. In fact, this is counterintuitive. Protect your investment by implementing a HVAC maintenance program. This involves inspecting, cleaning, and tuning up the various components of the system, including air filters, condenser coils, evaporator coils, and blower motor.

Air filters are an essential component of the HVAC system, as they remove impurities from the air and improve indoor air quality. Dirty air filters can lead to reduced system airflow, increased energy consumption, worsening indoor air quality (which tenants can often detect), and shortened lifespan of your system. Therefore, it is essential to clean or replace the air filters regularly based on manufacturer’s recommendations and equipment usage. Some years ago, I did a retro-commissioning study and came across several filthy air filters. The facility manager said he was following the manufacturer’s recommendation of changing the filters every 6 months. What he was not aware of (and I pointed out) was across the street from this facility was a different one with outdoor piles of crushed rock and sand. Undoubtedly, winds were kicking up some of this dust into their filters. The facility manager understood and changed his practices to accommodate to change filters every 3 months.

The condenser and evaporator coils also can accumulate dirt and debris, reducing their efficiency and leading to overwork and higher energy bills. Regular cleaning of the coils can help maintain optimal system performance and reduce energy usage. In addition, the blower motor, which circulates the air throughout the system, also requires regular maintenance, such as lubrication, to prevent overheating and ensure optimal performance.

Besides regular cleaning and maintenance, HVAC systems also require periodic tune-ups to ensure optimal performance. During tune-ups, technicians inspect the system for any potential issues, such as leaks or worn-out parts, and make necessary repairs. They also adjust the system to ensure it operates at peak performance and efficiency, which can result in lower energy bills and enhance the longevity of the system, reducing long-term capital costs. This is another item that is often overlooked, but very beneficial.
Therefore, it is to your great benefit to develop a regular program, such as having experienced HVAC technicians inspect your equipment on a regular basis (once or twice per year) and to do your own brief inspections to replace dirty filters and inspect coils more often. Don’t skimp on this or ignore a unit or two because it may be “small”. Remember that regular HVAC maintenance will reduce electricity bills, prevent breakdowns that will impact your tenants or production, improve indoor air quality, and extend the lifespan of the system. Given that HVAC systems are costly investments, regular maintenance that will identify and remediate potential issues before they become major problems, HVAC maintenance is important to your bottomline.

CCES has the experts to direct you to design and implement an HVAC maintenance program to benefit your systems and equipment and operational goals. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or at karell@CCESworld.com.

Nuclear power has certainly had its highs and lows. In the post-Hiroshima and Nagasaki era, nuclear power was considered a modern and efficient way to generate electricity. However, a number of accidents, which got international press coverage, and the long-term treatment and effects of spent fuel rods gave nuclear a major negative reputation. But recent technological advances in nuclear power and the need for energy sources that do not combust fossil fuels have resulted in leaders looking at nuclear more favorably these days.

The need to address climate change has been a boon for the nuclear power industry. Nuclear energy does not emit greenhouse gasses and many states and nations have set ambitions goals of eliminating fossil fuel-combustion power plants from their electricity grids in the next one to two decades.

Although there are few concrete plans for new nuclear plants, several states have paved the way for them by ending moratoria on new nuclear plants. A number of existing plants have been shut down or are nearing the end of their useful lives. These may be logical sites for a new generation of nuclear plants.

Of course, the old concerns of safety have not gone away, especially from the public. New nuclear plants must make headway in these issues. However, the industry has received both government and private funding and is working on new, advanced technologies and may be ready to implement them in a future generation of plants. A new nuclear plant in Tennessee went online in 2016, the first in the 21st century in the US. Two plants are expected to start operating in Georgia soon. Licenses have been obtained from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to build new facilities in 4 states.

While nuclear is figuring into the equation to de-carbonize our future energy supply, its designs may be different in the future. A new generation of small modular reactors or “SMRs” are being developed. These are smaller in output and footprint than historic nuclear plants. However, these are attempting to be more manageable, safer, and more efficient and economical than existing large-scale reactors. For example, an SMR could use as much as 90% less water than conventional facilities. Several SMRs could be envisioned as working together to increase output at a given location. While conventional nuclear plants cost billions to design, construct and test, SMRs could likely be built at a fraction of the cost, an advantage if investment money is tight. New SMRs may be able to provide additional power to existing plants with aging reactors, minimizing the need to build new plants in areas where there may be local opposition.

CCES cannot build nuclear plants, but we have the experts to assist you in determining your best way to de-carbonize and have reliable power for your facilities. Contact us today at karell@CCESworld.com or at 914-584-6720.

The Inflation Reduction Act will have a major impact on the clean energy industry in the years to come. One of the greatest benefits is the ability for non-profit entities to afford clean energy and energy efficiency projects. Money is certainly an issue for most non-profits and upgrading systems to be more energy efficient or green is too expensive for many. Most existing incentives for buildings to move in this direction revolved around good tax breaks and depreciation of equipment. Since non-profits don’t pay taxes, this would not benefit them. Often, a non-profit would work with a “for-profit” company, who would invest in the upgrade, take advantage of the generous tax break, and then lease the equipment or output to the non-profit. This is a good deal, but the non-profit may not get the total monetary benefit as even magnanimous for-profits certainly may want to make some profit out of these ventures, besides the tax break.

The Inflation Reduction Act changes this by allowing the option for direct payment of the benefit rather than the Investment Tax Credit. Non-profits can now quickly receive their incentive for investing in upgraded energy equipment, solar panels, or batteries and not be shut out. Access for non-tax paying entities of the 30% ITC will significantly influence non-profits and low-income communities to move forward on projects that not only will benefit the planet, but save them expenses, as well.

ITC direct payment will allow non-profits, such as charities, affordable housing developers, community-based organizations, and state, local and tribal governments, to receive the benefits of the ITC as an upfront payment, rather than a tax credit. This will enable non-profits to take advantage as for-profits have already done for significant energy efficiency, solar, battery storage, and other resilient power systems, enabling such systems and their industries to grow in the US and in areas that have not had such projects before. In certain communities of need, the ITC credit may be as high as 50%.

Thus, this is a time to discuss potential projects with non-profits. Such big-ticket items have been out of their realm for so long, many may never have thought about a smart, beneficial energy efficiency, solar, or battery storage project. Spend some time to reacquaint them with the technology, show them it works (there is no or little risk), what the potential benefits and savings are for the entity, and the improved economics for the non-profit. It may take some doing to get used to, but the conditions have never been better for this neglected group of entities to benefit from smart energy projects.

CCES is not a tax or accounting firm, but has the technical experts to help a non-profit or any organization determine which energy upgrade projects are best for it and bring in experienced, vetted vendors and experts on incentives to make this work. Contact us today at karell@CCESworld.com or at 914-584-6720.

We’re all very good and well-trained at what we do. However, our output – our ability to show what we do and to please our employer or clients – is due in part to how we present ourselves. No, I’m not talking about dress here or about our presentation and writing skills (although they are important, too!). I am talking about organization of data and files. How we handle and organize data we are given in our computer can be the difference between performing a project well or not and also performing it timely or being wasteful. Showing well-organized data in a report will also not only head off questions and comments and enable finalization to go quicker and smoother, but also makes you look good to your clients and the agencies or the public you are presenting data and findings to.

OK, OK. I may not be the best person to “lecture” on data organization. I have had breakdowns myself or have clients or agencies ask questions that would have been avoided had I better organized my data. But I’m trying to get better and that’s all we can hope for: improve and get at least a little better in the future. Here are some tips.

Invest time to organize. Instead of “throwing” your data into a project or other folder, spend some time early on understanding and organizing it. It may take a few minutes, but it will save you much more than that in the future. I am often given several years of energy data listed on a monthly basis. Often, the source just sends me a spreadsheet from a different project and it has extraneous information. Take some time to copy and paste or otherwise edit the information so that you have only what you need in the format you prefer. I’ve taken the time to take data presented in a certain order and change the order because I know that will make things easier for me when I need it later on.

Create folders and sub-folders with different categories. Do this in order to save time searching for needed documents. For most of my projects, I have a sub-folder specifically for Administrative materials. I create and use sub-folders for raw data given to me, for calculations, for reports, for pictures, for background, etc. for a specific project or prospect, so that when I need something I can find it more efficiently.

Create specific file names for specific files. One thing that used to bedevil me is having multiple versions of documents, a.k.a., multiple drafts. It may be tough to find the exact document you need. And looking at the date a document was last edited could be dangerous because a recently-dated file might be one that was not changed but only looked at more recently than it was created. Thus, in the file name I create, I list the status. For example, I will end the file name of a first draft document with DRAFT 1, followed by DRAFT 2, etc. until I label it FINAL. And, yes, all caps. I may have a contract in different stages, so I list the final one as not just final, but also SIGNED. This has not only saved me a lot of time in finding the right document, but provides an assurance that I am actually reading or utilizing the correct one.

Archive old files on or off of your main computer. Many of us have files from old projects we really don’t use much. However, while it may be “old”, it may contain useful information or formats. Therefore, I keep active project files by specific client or project in my main file folder for easy access. But I also have a separate file called “Completed Projects” in which I put project files that are complete (complete, by the way, defined as not just the work being done, but final payment being received, as well). So with a couple of extra clicks, all those old, historical files can be accessed. If you really have a lot of files or files with a lot of data, videos, and model runs, it may be in your interest to remove old files totally from your main computer and put them on an external drive or flash drive, speeding up your search for current documents on your main computer.

I hope you found this helpful and good luck in making incremental progress in data and file management.

CCES has the experts to help you organize your energy and environmental data to serve you well, help you understand your historical energy usage or discharges, and plan better in the future. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or karell@CCESworld.com.

The environmental movement is certainly changing. Unlike some scientific fields established centuries ago, the environment is relatively “new”. Of course, environmental problems existed back in ancient times. But we really never thought it could be studied and harnessed until the last 60 years or so. So with that history and the amazing pace of new discoveries, it is understandable that our approach to environmental problems will change as we learn more. And included in that is the language.

The language of the environment can change very quickly. For example, Dr. Harold Des Voeux in the early 20^th century studied a condition but could not find a word in the literature to describe it. So he invented one, that we now use commonly: smog. He saw the colored and hazy air and saw thousands of people suffering from lung ailments, breathing in so many byproducts of coal combustion. So he made up a word: “smog”, combining smoke and fog. He did not ask for permission. He just made it up and published it. Now, its fully understood as an air pollution concept.

A new project called The Bureau of Linguistical Reality (bureauoflinguisticalreality.com) has a goal is create a new lexicon for recent changes on our planet, such as climate change and biodiversity. Working with scientists and the general public, the project leaders have developed new words they hope will be universally adopted so that scientists can better communicate with each other and with the public. In this effort, the latter, speaking to the general public is important, so that new terminology not come down from educated people but from those impacted by change, too.

One example is a new word that has been coined, nonnapaura, the conflicting fears and hope of being a grandparent amid climate change. This word came from a discussion between the project leaders and a woman concerning her anxieties about the Earth’s future for her children and grandchildren and the conflict between improvements she has seen in her life and climate change. They took the Italian words nonna (grandmother) and paura (fear) and combined them for nonnapaura.

Other examples in the project include the word pyrora to describe the air during wildfires, when the atmosphere looked different due to the particulate matter present. And there is mientierra, from the Spanish for lie and earth, meaning when the ground gives a false sense of security, but is not really that secure, such as retreating coastlines. And there is the word shellaqua,the act of covering a once-permeable surface with human-made materials, thus increasing the flood risk. This word is based on a “shellac” coating and “aqua”.

CCES may not be experts in linguistics, but we can help you understand Climate Change and environmental issues and provide technical advice to protect you from its impacts and reduce risk. Contact us at karell@CCESworld.com or at 914-584-6720.

Whether you or your colleagues “believe” in man-made Climate Change or not, everybody has to acknowledge we are experiencing more extreme weather events and changes in climate, impacting the operations, sales, infrastructure, and personnel of all entities: businesses, governments, non-profits, etc. These effects are severe and can knock a facility off-kilter for many months, if not be an existential issue.

Is this a real concern? It sure is. In 2020, the US experienced 22 separate billion-dollar disasters caused by severe weather or climate, resulting in 262 fatalities and $95 billion in financial losses. The severe winter storm in Texas in 2021 alone caused 210 fatalities and $129 billion in product losses. The trend is worsening. It can affect almost any entity. History shows how these intense events have become more common in recent years. Thus, it is important to consider these effects on operations and plan.

How can one assess risks due to extreme conditions to make business-wise decisions?

First, we need to define the risks. Simply put in terms of direct effects, these come in two categories. One is short-term from extreme weather developing quickly and locally: hurricanes, tornadoes, intense rain, winds. The other is longer-term, infrastructure-related, and climate-related: droughts, perpetual flooding. Which of these is your facility most vulnerable to? How might these affect your operations? Safety of personnel? Ability to grow crops? Ability to transport in raw materials and out product?

What you can do is develop a Climate Risk Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA), a study of your facilities and operations to identify, quantify, and provide solutions to lower the risk of a climate-related hazard from affecting operations. 

The first step in developing a CRVA is to assess the potential for risk. What are the hazards your facilities and operations are vulnerable to? Are any in areas with historic hurricane or floods before? Meteorologists, geologists, and hydrologists can estimate risk by determining, for example, 100-year flood risks, storm surges, hurricanes. Historic meteorological data exists to perform an initial analysis. Together with this, the CRVA would need to estimate the potential effect of, say, a 100-year flood on operations. What operations, equipment, or portion of the facility might become non-operational?

The next step in the CRVA is to assess a facility’s infrastructure to determine if it is still adequately protected from identified potential natural disasters. Mechanical and civil engineers can help in such an assessment. For example, is water management systems still appropriate for more severe rainfall or was the new, large rainfalls not planned for back then? Is key equipment located in areas that may be at risk due to an extreme event (a key generator, boilers, or operational equipment)?

The next step is to conduct a consequence analysis. If a flooding of X inches of rain in Y hours occurs, which buildings, equipment, and operations are likely to be vulnerable and how, quantitatively, could affect production, business, and lives?

The final part of a CRVA is to develop a list of steps that would minimize potential damage to a vulnerable area based on the consequence analysis. These might include larger water management systems to take water away from a building or moving key equipment to higher floors, monitors and/or better communication so staff is aware of sudden changes, etc. Planning is great, but an action plan is also needed to prioritize options and actually implement them to reduce long-term catastrophic risk.

This is all very logical and most engineers certainly understand the notion of risk and to invest ahead of time to reduce risk. However, many entities are run by people who either ignore risk or insist on a direct financial benefits analysis. What is the payback? How much will a project gain for the entity? For reducing climate risk, it is possible that there will never be an extreme incident at the location in question; the investment has no direct return. Although with the frequency of such catastrophic incidents growing, it is impossible to ever say there is no risk of loss; extreme loss avoidance planning is as important as immediate return. People who control purse strings and think short-term need to be educated on the importance and value of risk reduction for a firm’s long-term viability.

CCES has the experts to help your entity evaluate climate and severe weather risk and work with you to develop and implement smart strategies to reduce such risk for a reasonable cost. Contact us today at karell@CCESworld.com or at 914-584-6720.

As the world moves to address climate change, being more energy efficient and using cleaner sources is being encouraged by both utilities and governments. Only 37% of respondents to PwC’s 2022 Annual Global CEO Survey said they factored greenhouse gas emissions into their long-term strategy at all. GHG emissions can be reduced by energy efficiency or clean fuels. One way to encourage such changes is with money; incentives and “green” tax credits. Such incentives have and will increase more in 2023 because of programs spurred on by the recent Inflation Reduction Act. Not only are such efficiency and clean energy projects cash positive because of the cost savings and reduction in O&M costs, but tax credits and rebates improve the economics even more.

Therefore, take the time to research the utility and government programs to enhance such potential projects. Some people or companies practically feel guilty taking money from these programs. No. The institutions have the funds budgeted and want to give out the credits or rebates, as long as one qualifies. Thus, the programs should stand out within their websites. Work with your Financial colleagues to ensure that the incentives will help your firm and not trigger other issues. But do research and take advantage in order to make the best business case for your proposed change.

Green incentives and taxes are offered all over the world. In Europe, taxes on excess fuel or water use and plastics and waste materials exist. In the US, there are few such taxes, but more tax credits for doing the right thing. And other incentives in the form of rebates abound in the US. Once the new technology is installed or strategy implemented, an appropriate check is sent to the business owner.

In many parts of the US, utilities or governments offer incentives that range from 30 to 70% of the upfront cost of the change. For a large capital cost item, such as heat pumps, boilers or rooftop units, that can be “game-changing”. Here are 3 items to be aware of as you consider energy upgrade incentives:

• You can’t “double-dip”. In many cases, the utility and the government offer similar incentive programs for the same item, such as upgrading to LED lights. But don’t think you can simply get rebates from both the government and utility. In most, if not all, areas, the two entities share data to prevent businesses from such “double-dipping”. And such an attempt may disqualify you from both programs.

• Don’t hesitate! Get youe incentive while you can. Some business owners think that although an incentive program is good, if they wait a year or more, it will be better. This is not sound thinking. Incentive programs generally last 1-2 years before the agency or utility evaluates it to continue, change, or end it. In some cases, businesses jump on the bandwagon such that little budgeted money is left in the program – for you. In some cases, even a good program is underutilized, and the entity decides to discontinue it. Even some successful programs are ended because the agency feels a change is needed. So for these reasons, when you come across a good incentive program and you were planning to make the changes anyway, go for it. Don’t delay; the program or the money may be gone or reduced, not to mention that you lose a year in savings not realized.

• Be aware of trends. Remember, incentives are just for that – an incentive to get businesses and buildings to procure and install an energy-efficient item. If over time, that item becomes more accepted, cheaper and beneficial, then incentives are not needed. For example, many utilities are cutting their LED incentive programs. LEDs are more accepted, their prices have come down lately, and the financials are so good (paybacks in many cases in under a year) that utilities have realized that incentives are no longer needed. Many are cutting back on the rebates. So be aware of where incentive trends are heading and pick smartly.

And here is a critical point: what if no incentives exist? What if you a very beneficial potential project comes up but your local government or utility does not offer a tax credit or rebate? Do you not do the project because no outside financial incentives exist? I hope not! If the project will pay for itself in a reasonable time and benefit the company in other ways, it is important for you to go forward with it, even if there is no payback from an outside entity. I have seen businesses pick a project or a vendor, not on the basis of how good the equipment is and its payback, but on how much the incentive will be. Even if an outside tax credit or incentive is not available, go forward if all the other benefits exist.

CCES has the experts to help you decide on the best energy upgrades to be more energy efficient, reduce your carbon footprint, and be more sustainable. We can research and prepare for you the forms to earn government or utility rebates, if you qualify, as well as manage implementation of the project. Contact us today at karell@CCESworld.com or at 914-584-6720.

Perhaps your entity has decided to establish a Sustainability or Climate Change program with robust goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, energy usage, waste generation, etc. How does one establish such a program to better ensure success in meeting the goals and communicating successes? Some people think that once one establishes such a program, one goes right out to the plant and collect data. Not so fast! It takes planning. Really!

1. Establish the Right Committee.  Make sure the right people are involved in the endeavor. Establish a committee of people at least somewhat knowledgeable about sustainability and Climate Change bringing with them knowledge of needed areas. It’s important to have representation from Engineering, New Product Design, EH&S, Financial & Accounting, Legal, Communications. Why? Because these areas contribute to the program. There are contracts and laws to understand and advise on (Legal). New technologies to consider installing and implementing (Engineering). Balancing costs, benefits, taxes, rebates, and borrowing (Financial). Communicating progress internally and externally (Communications). Leaving out even one such expertise can sidetrack an entire program. Gather not just the experts, but those knowledgeable or willing to learn about Sustainability and establish roles.
2. Critical Addendum: Get the CEO involved. A program like Sustainability or Climate Change may not be liked by some at the company and could get short shrift when it comes to funds, respect, discussions, etc. Such people who could sidetrack this are not bad people; they are just people not familiar with the concepts and the potential benefits for the company. They did not learn about this in school. Getting the CEO involved will overcome any interference by others in Management. Let the CEO know about the potential benefits and what is involved and the progress of the program (no surprises!).
3. Estimate Future Progress and Problems.  Before you get too deep into company details, think about the long-term future of the program. What do you wish to accomplish in the first year? How about longer term, like in 3 years? Think deeper. Do you really think that you can achieve these goals given the reality of your entity? Do some honest introspection and think about the culture of your company. Are there potential barriers to success, such as “difficult and competitive to get funding for even a good project”, getting the CEO to keep this as a high priority; getting positive feedback and cooperation from Labor; getting approval to make changes to operations, etc. These are issues that can de-rail a good Sustainability program even if the Committee is gung ho. Try to anticipate what issues may come up in the short- and long-term and begin to “grease the wheels” to alleviate them. And don’t just study the negative. What achievements can be made and which ones can occur early on to give perhaps skeptical stakeholders confidence that the investment in Sustainability is worth it? Later work toward the success of early-progress projects and be ready to share it.
4. Create a Vision. Develop a vision of how Sustainability can change the entity to be more clear, modern, “hip”, able to be flexible in future crises, and profitable in the future and communicate this throughout the organization.  Make sure you do not overpromise or promise “utopia”. But do create a positive vision to motivate Management, staff, and stakeholders to be a part of. Use videos and social media, if possible. Try to motivate diverse people to help out or do their part.

Yes, it seems like a lot of work, but taking these steps as you establish your Sustainability Program better ensures long-term success and favor within your organization. And, after all, that is what you want, right? Success, favor, funding so you can implement the projects to make Sustainability a success and beneficial. Have a good year!

CCES has the experts to help your firm establish a successful Sustainability or Climate Change program. Done the right way. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or at karell@CCESworld.com.