Green project management

Green project management is all about considering environment and thinking green throughout the project and decision making process. Project manager plays an important role by applying “green” concepts to the project plan. For example, project manager can add a section for “environmental concerns” to the project charter. Under this section, he can add the project’s old equipment that could be recycled or re-used instead of burying them in a dumpster. Based on that, project manager should consider “seeking recycling company” as a project task.

Another example is issues management. In order to apply “green-think” to the process, project manager should add “environmental impacts” to the issues list. Project manager might include the impact of the tasks that are required to be done in the evening, like energy required to run air conditioning, extra electricity, lighting, water, etc. project stakeholders might take a decision to delay the project one or two days just to avoid working on evenings and reduce the resources.

Also project manager can establish green project management by following the suggested tips below:

  • Schedule projects appropriately and build the team adequately so that he minimizes the overtime and the added energy
  • Consider enlisting freelancers and sub-contractors who work from home, this might reduce energy consumption
  • Include recycling quotas in the team incentive program
  • Require documentation and reports to be submitted digitally, this might reduce paper consumption
  • Use network storage to share documents between stakeholders instead of distribute papers or CDs

A few examples of “green-think” KPIs could include:

  • Time saved
  • Energy reduced
  • Tons of Waste reduced
  • Gallons of water reduced

Based on the above, greening a project can help reduce the budget , reduce the time needed to complete a project, support the project team and increase a company’s reputation.

Source: http://www.greenprojectmanagement.org/the-gpm-blog/317-kpis-for-adopting-sustainability-strategy-and-objectives

 

5 thoughts on “Green project management

  1. I agree with going green management. It will emit positive vibes in the office as things are made use of in different ways. Recycling will help in reducing energy usage, consumption or raw materials and reduction of air and water pollution.

  2. Thank you for your post Eman. I recently attended PMI GCC conference, this issue of green project management was brought up. I came to know there are initiatives in Bahrain to establish an e-waste bins for all the electronics we no longer need. I think if our region grasped and implemented the idea of “going green” within our day-to-day activities this will certainly ease having green KPIs within projects as you mentioned.

  3. Interesting Post. I believe companies going with green is a good idea. It is always a dependable way to start with the things that don’t make any harm to the environment and by adapting the 3Rs (Reduce, Recycle and Reuse) can help the environment and the company.

  4. I love it I think this is a wonderful post, after all our natural resources on this planet will run out and the idea of reusing materials that help our planet green gives earth a fighting chance not to mention the nobility and grace our generations to come will evolve to. I would really love to see the impact of a regulatory Green agency on project management and execution in the region its very simple just like obtaining a construction permits from city hall.

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