Topic: Planning

Planning is essential to the environmental success of your volunteer project. Working with project proponents, partners, and the community early on in the project planning process will lay the foundation for establishing goals and plans for the effort. This is the time to ensure that the project is eco-friendly and ensure that the community supports the project so that it will be cared for and maintained in the long term.

Before resources are allocated to a service project, confirm the readiness of the service project site. If the project site has not been reviewed sufficiently, the project could encounter significant challenges during implementation and, as a result, be less likely to succeed. For a project to be successful and eco-friendly, the project team must do its homework in evaluating the readiness of the service project site.

Guidelines

Something missing? Something not belong? Let Us Know!

Conserve Energy in the Short-Term

Some benefits of being energy efficient can be realized immediately, where others may take years to achieve a return on the initial investment. Using hand- or pedal-powered tools and...
Conserve Energy for the Long-Term

Energy footprint for the entire lifecycle of a project can be so far reaching that it becomes very important to set clear priorities and boundaries. Although considering the energy signature of...
Purchase Eco-Friendly New Materials

As consumers, we vote with our wallets by purchasing “green” products to reduce environmental impacts and increase socially beneficial programs. However, understanding the benefits, costs...
Evaluate and Build on a Site’s Past Use

The most sustainable and eco-friendly projects are projects that optimize the use of resources and limited impact on the environment. Therefore, projects that require fewer resources to...
Select the Project Type

Because that the needs of the community change over time, consider your community’s current and future needs when choosing the best project.
Evaluate Projects Against Environmental Impacts and Community Goals*

Evaluating the environmental cost of materials and impact to the environment against the amount of benefit to the community are important factors in selecting a project. You must select a...
Evaluate Performance*

Refer to your goals throughout the planning process, as well as on the day(s) of the service project. Inform volunteers of the eco-friendly goals, so they feel that they have a part in...
Engage the Community Throughout*

With the right mix of community engagement tactics, you can help resolve some of your community’s most pressing social problems and mobilize others to action.
Ensure Your Project is Eco-Friendly*

Consider how these indicators can be used to define and measure the success of your project: Indicator Green Greener Greenest Locally Produced/Available Available within 500 miles Available...
Create a Clear Course of Action

A solid plan is the foundation of a successful project. Kick it off with a meeting between project managers and partners.
Engage the Community Early*

Working with project proponents, partners, and the community early on in the project planning process will lay the foundation for establishing goals and plans for the effort.

Featured Case Study

Case Study: Engaged and Ready to Work

Building communities through building playgrounds

KaBOOM!

Washington, DC

Community Engagement is key

Dave Flanigan

11/13/2009

If you do not have community involved from the beginning, there is no buy in and the chances of having a...