MPOWER ORIENTATION

AND TNS WORKSHOP April 29, 2014

Presented by Sustain Dane

Hosted by CUNA Mutual Foundation

Agenda

• Welcome and Introductions

• The Natural Step Framework

- Break -

• One Year of MPower

• How to be an MPower Team

• Close Out

IGNORANCE IS BLISS!

Purpose of The Natural Step

• Provide a common language; accelerates consensus

building

• Set decision-making criteria

• Clarify goals and coordinate actions

• Screen investment strategies

• Continual integration of sustainability

Core Concepts of The Natural Step

• The Sustainability Challenge

• Natural Laws

• Backcasting

• The Four Conditions

• ABCD Planning Process

The Sustainability Challenge

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbZcQe9J-EE

TNS: A Systems-based Approach

• What are the principles that define the system?

• The principles frame the goal

• Upstream solutions vs. quick fixes

We Live in the Biosphere

Food

Fertilizer

The Earth is an Open System with

Respect to Energy

The Earth is a Closed System with

Respect to Matter

Breakdown Reorganize

That Means There’s no Away

X

Photosynthesis Uses Energy to Create Structure

The Geologic Cycle is SLOW

SUSTAINABILITY IS THE CAPACITY OF OUR

HUMAN SOCIETY TO CONTINUE INDEFINITELY

WITHIN THESE NATURAL CYCLES

Backcasting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbZcQe9J-EE

The Four System Conditions

1: In a sustainable society nature

is not subject to…

…systematically increasing the

concentrations of substances

extracted from the Earth’s

crust.

Flows from the lithosphere to the ecosphere

can’t be continuously larger than the flows

back to the lithosphere

In what ways is our company

systematically decreasing our

dependence on fossil fuels and

mined materials?

2: In a sustainable society nature

is not subject to…

…systematically increasing the

concentrations of substances

produced by society.

Flow of human-made chemicals can’t be so

large that they do not degrade or integrate

into natural cycles

In what ways is our company

systematically decreasing our

dependence on persistent and

unnatural substances?

3: In a sustainable society nature

is not subject to…

…degradation by physical

means.

Natural resources are not deteriorated by

over-harvesting, mismanagement,

displacement, or other physical manipulation

In what ways is our company

systematically decreasing our

dependence on activities that

physically destroy the ecosphere?

4: And in that society…

…people are not subject to

conditions that systematically

undermine their capacity to

meet their needs.

Use of natural resources have to be efficient

in meeting current and future human needs

In what ways is our company

contributing to opportunities for

people to meet their needs? Idleness

Subsistence Participation Protection

Affection Understanding

Creation Identity Freedom

Reduce and eventually eliminate our contribution

to the systematic accumulation of materials from

the earth’s crust

Reduce and eliminate our contribution to the

systematic accumulation of substances

produced by society

Reduce and eliminate our contribution to the

ongoing physical degradation of nature

Reduce and eliminate our contribution to

conditions that systematically undermine

people’s ability to meet their basic needs

Backcasting

ABCD

Awareness

Creative Solutions

Decide on Priorities

Present

Future

Does it move us in the right direction?

Is it a flexible platform?

Is it a good return on investment?

Baseline

A

B C

D

A • Evaluate and build awareness of

the relevance of sustainability

• Create personal and

professional meaning

• Develop a common language and

understanding

• Move from old to new

behaviors

• Create a Vision for the Future

AWARENESS

& VISION

B • Create an inventory of assets that you can

build from

• Identify what’s already happening and

build into coordinated movement

• Conduct a sustainability impacts analysis

• Identify how you are contributing to

unsustainability and how you are aligning

with 4 conditions

• Evaluate stakeholder relationships

• Understand who is affected by and can

influence your initiatives

BASELINE

C • Roll what you learned in Step B into long-

term strategic goals

• Brainstorm potential solutions

CREATIVE ACTION

D • Set indicators and targets

• Track and monitor to ensure right

direction

• Generate a diverse list of potential actions

• Continually move forward

• Screen and prioritize actions

• Plan and act strategically

• Create action implementation table

• Know who is responsible, by when, and

with what resources

DOWN TO ACTION

Keep it Going...

• Review the plan periodically

• Report to stakeholders

• Celebrate successes along the way

• Continually integrate sustainability concepts

• Adopt sustainability conditions as guiding framework

ABCD

Awareness

Creative Solutions

Decide on Priorities

Present

Future

Does it move us in the right direction?

Is it a flexible platform?

Is it a good return on investment?

Baseline

MPower 2014

Energy

Stewards Events Resources Projects Coaching

Measurement

& Tracking

Sust.

Sessions

Sustainability Sessions

• 5/20: Alternative Transportation

• 6/17: Waste Reduction

• 7/15: Energy Efficiency for Facilities

• 8/26: Green IT

• 9/16: Water Stewardship

• 10/21: Sustainable Food

• 12/02: Project Updates

• 2/17: Moving Forward

Time: 8:30 – 10:30 am

Location: Goodman Community Center

MPower Team Leaders will receive invitations

Energy Stewards Web-based tracking software for energy use

Training Session in June!

• June 3, 8:30 – 10:30 am

OR

• June 4, 3:30 – 5:30 pm

Villager Mall, S. Park St.

MPower Leaders will receive invites!

Green Teams

What is a Green Team?

• A cross-departmental group of employees who work

together to improve the sustainability of their

workplace

Green Teams

• Spark innovation

• Increase efficiencies and reduce waste

• Develop leaders

• Attract & retain talent

7 Green Team Tips

1. Secure upper management support

2. Be strategic about your members

3. Define the scope of your work

4. Meet at least once a month

5. Create a 2 pronged communication plan

(internal & external)

6. Just do something

7. Celebrate and recognize your champions

Who is on the Green Team?

Facilities

Manager

Purchasing

Human

Resources

Information

Technology

Traits of Team Members

3 Archetypes:

- Explorer

- Pioneer

- Settler

Explorer

Pioneer

Settlers

Roles & Responsibilities

What will you share with your Green

Team?

What is the next Step?

Thank You to our partners

and sponsors!