Adding Value For Environmentally Friendly Projects

Knowing how to deliver the value is an area that requires continuous updating. Today, with the proliferation of energy/green technologies, it is impossible for one person to know all the ways to add value to a project. Green specialties are expanding every day. For example: energy efficiency, water efficiency, green janitorial, LEED Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, recycling, transportation, etc..

Being open to learning and working with other professionals who are also acquiring knowledge and the value to your client's increases measurably. Being open and accepting to new possibilities and new green technologies is part of the process. "Brain-Sharing" or brain-storming techniques can help accelerate the process and maximize the number of useful ideas. (Results from the Profitable Green Strategies Course, www.ProfitableGreenSolutions.biz)

Fortunately, education is a low-cost investment. Collaboration and even joint-ventures/partnering can be done inexpensively as well and the returns can be huge!

Environmental and Energy Education Links

https://www.aeecenter.org/seminars/

http://www.eere.energy.gov/

http://www.ashrae.org/education/

http://www.usgbc.org

http://www.ase.org

http://www.energystar.org

http://greeninginterior.doi.gov

More innovative ideas to bring more value to a project include:

Reciprocal Business Agreements

Joint Ventures (JV's)

Free Tax with Utility Rebates and Incentives

2 Way Business Agreements:

Here is an example: In being given a $1,000,000 service contract for a rental car company the deal was enhanced with a contract on our part to secure that rental car company while traveling and this agreement delivered over $1,000,000 in additional car rentals.

To the client, they were getting an extra $1,000,000 in revenue by working with us versus the competitors. What suppliers, partners, colleagues, professionals, etc. could you develop reciprocal business agreements? How could you help two clients (or a supplier) benefit from each other? How could you help them become more "green"?

In this example: We assisted customer # 1 supply environmentally green solutions to customer # 2. This benefited both companies in increasing more sales and saving money. During the next open bidding process there was virtually zero resistance because we helped them save costs and increase revenues. Being a "trusted advisor" is the favored position in business.

Joint Venture Opportunities:

Example: An "environmentally friendly travel agency delivers half of its commissions back to customers in exchange for their travel business. The client opts to use this "found money" to cover environmentally friendly projects, social programs or scholarships. When the agency guarantees rock bottom pricing it doubles its revenue since it provides more value to customers via JV's (Joint Ventures).

Tax and Utility Rebates and Incentives:

For Example: A whopping 50% of sa solar energy project was funded by rebates from federal and state resources. An additional incentive on utilities lowered the installation costs even more. There are a variety of free tax incentives and utility incentives available in the next section.

Hopefully, these techniques will help you get your next project approved. Why is this important because the ice is melting! We are counting on you.

By: Eric Woodroof, Ph.D.

Dr. Eric Woodroof, Ph.d. is founder of Profitable Green Solutions, a profitable green strategies training business. Sign up for Eric's Free green business workshop briefing and sign up for Global Warming Workshop Training. It sells out.

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