Preparation
• Learn about sustainability, take training courses, read books, attend conferences, and get certified if it will help (such as LEED certification if you’re an architect).
• Get into the conversation about the sustainability in your area (or nationally). You need the community as much as it needs your participation and perspective. [92]
• Start talking about what you’re doing, but keep it understated for now. Consider a personal or corporate blog or RSS feed that your friends, families, co-workers, and clients can use to keep abreast of sustainability developments.
• Get sustainability principles into the mission, vision, and values of your organization. This may take some time, so get the conversation started now.
• Start measuring social and environmental impacts and benefits alongside financial impacts and benefits. As you measure and track these, you’ll be better equipped to make integrated bottom line decisions across all three instead of merely on the basis of money.
• Join the Designer’s Accord: www. designersaccord. org. [93] recycled paper or mugs instead of disposable cups or banning water bottles) will help change behaviors and raise the level of comfort among your co-workers.
• Consider working with partners and even competitors to raise standards, share information, and even pool resources to promote the adoption of new standards or materials and lower costs by raising the volume of demand.
• Promote recycling and composting at home and at work—even if you have to take it to the recycling center yourself.
