Going Green with Andrea Dean

Well the days are flying by. I finally got a new home page mocked up today. None of the info is correct, and there is still old stuff on the page, but let me know what you think of where I am going with the design.


We just installed Twitter Tools for WordPress and I am posting this blog post to test all of the cool functionality. Gotta go!

If you want to become a green business, organization or community- you need a plan to get there. And you need to have a common definition of sustainability that everyone can agree upon. Many businesses here in Hawaii are taking the first steps towards sustainability, picking the low hanging fruits (conserving energy, waste, water), but few are looking into the future. How can planning for sustainability help you to take advantage of new markets? How can planning for sustainability help you avoid future resource problems? How can you communicate sustainability to your customers, your suppliers?


I was a part of a group of 30 sustainability leaders on Hawaii Island who were trained in how to use The Natural Step framework for strategic planning for sustainability. The Hawaii County Resource Center and the Kohala Center partnered to bring The Natural Step senior trainers Sarah Brooks and Mike Purcell to Hawaii to train us.


Now a group of us are working to localize The Natural Step for Sustainability Primer, highlighting local examples of sustainable practices.

I am looking for a few Sustainability Business Leaders who would like apply The Natural Step framework in their businesses.


I was recently part of a group of 30 sustainability leaders on Hawaii Island who were trained in how to use The Natural Step framework for strategic planning for sustainability. The Hawaii County Resource Center and the Kohala Center partnered to bring The Natural Step senior trainers Sarah Brooks and Mike Purcell to Hawaii to train us. Following are snippets from the training in which we applied the Natural Step framework towards sustainability issues in our County.


Mike Purcell, Natural Step Senior Trainer

Sarah Brooks, Natural Step Senior Trainer

Lynn VanLeuwan

Stefan Kropidlowski

Kathy Pomeroy

Ryan Peters

I am just not that good at coming up with witty, marketable names for my classes. Help me!


My first Green Business Coaching Group is wrapping up in July and I am launching a new Green Business Group/Class in September. The new Group will feature different green business topics being taught each week by me and special guest speakers. Coaching techniques (active listening, powerful questioning, asking for commitments and accountability, etc) will be incorporated in the conversation in order to enhance learning and help participants to achieve their goals. Participants will also be able to help drive the agenda- asking for classes on topics of interest to them. People in the current group have really enjoyed the conversations that we have had and the connections they have made with each other. Feeling connected to each other and exchanging ideas has been a rich part of our group.


The New Name

Some basic info:

The class meets on the phone- it is a tele-class (or tele-seminar), we also use a web component when we need to for presentations. So– participants can be from anywhere in the country, not limited to Hawaii, where I live. The class meets twice a month for a hour each time for three months.

It is a Class/Coaching Group. I was previously calling it a Green Business Coaching Group, but this concept seemed too hard to explain. Everyone understands what a class is and I will incorporate coaching into the class.

Here are some of the words that I have been playing with, but unable to put into any great order:
Connect (Connection)
Engage (Engagement)
Achievement (Achievement)
Accomplish (Accomplishment)
Regenerate
Action
Stimulate
Accomplishment
Network with linke-minded….
Advancement
Progression
Expansion
Innovation
Resource
Evolution
Innovate (Innovation)
Eco preneur
Eco innovation
Aina innovation
Green Business
Green Biz
Sustainable business class series
Sustainable Business
Sustain biz
Greenasiannce
Socio eco
Green biz innovators class series
Eco biz
Green Team…..
Green Biz Blast
Hawaii Green Innovators
Eco Innovators
Going Green Hawaiian Style
Hawaii Eco-preneurs
Green Business Instutute of Hawaii
Green Biz Grow and Connect


If I choose a name that you come up with, I am happy to offer you a place in the Green Biz Group (or whatever it’s called!)- a $390 value.

Pictured at right: Kenneth Sheeks- Hawaii Skylights & Solar Fans, Michael Kramer- Natural Investments LLC & Kuleana Green Business Program founder, Andrea Dean.


On Wednesday night at the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce after hours, my company was recognized as a participant in the Kuleana Green Business Program.


The Kuleana Green Business Program recognizes businesses that promotes ethical and socially responsible business practices and environmental stewardship. Chamber businesses apply to the program and are evaluated based upon the following criteria:


• Product/Service Quality
-Unique products / services that deliver benefits to consumers, society and the environment.
• Community Relations & Benefits
-Activities that help the community to flourish socially, culturally, and economically.
• Customer Relations
-Strategies to provide outstanding service and attain customer loyalty.
• Employee Relations
-Policies for hiring and retaining employees, and for promoting accountability
• Environmental Stewardship
-Actions to minimize the business’ impact on the land, and efforts to conserve and regenerate resources.
(Source: Kuleana Green Business Program website)


Some of us think all businesses should integrate social and environmental strategies into their operations. Just the application process to Kuleana is a learning experience. Apply today! The committee has people to help you with your application.