we integrate sustainable strategies that help organizations flourish.
Integrate: We PLAN & IMPLEMENT strategies that help you achieve organizational goals.
Planning
- Data collection and analysis
- Benchmark emissions, energy and resource use
- Greenhouse Gas inventory
- Clarify the vision
- Build consensus
- Identify and prioritize goals and strategies
- Establish metrics
- Master plan energy/sustainability elements
- Workshops
- Leadership immersion
Implementation
- Lead sustainability initiatives
- Manage behavior change campaigns
- Coordinate stakeholders
- Ongoing advisory services
- Employee training
- Life-cycle analysis
- Facilitate operational changes
- External communication strategies
- Ongoing measurement and reporting
- Online tools for engagement and tracking
Many of the aforementioned services can be provided independently or as part of a larger project. In other words, if you’re just looking to explore what sustainability means for your organization at a high level, we can rightsize the project to meet your needs.
Sustainable: Long-lasting & targeted
Sustainability is about thinking in long terms, which means more than quarterly profits. Our focus is on long-lasting strategies that are woven into the fabric of the organization. They will help you achieve existing organizational goals rather than creating a whole new set of goals that don’t align with your mission or vision. Our approach is targeted and specific to you and incorporates the always unique aspects of your organization.
Strategies: We explore both STATIC & DYNAMIC opportunities.
Static
These are typically one-time changes to a process, software or infrastructure that produce long-lasting results. The focus is on finding the low-hanging fruit that will produce immediate results with short paybacks and high ROIs. The quick wins build momentum throughout the organization.
Dynamic
Our dynamic strategies engage people in a meaningful and rewarding way so that sustainability becomes part of the organizational culture. We use a bevy of research-supported methods to engrain the sustainability mindset into the organization and move the entire organization forward.
Organizations: All shapes and sizes
First and foremost, we only work with organizations where we are sure we can add value. There must be a clear avenue for us to help and your organization should be poised and ready to move forward. The challenge many experience is how to move forward, which is where we come in. Our approach is a good fit for a range of shapes and sizes. Whether you are large and complex, small and family-owned, or a government entity, two commonalities hold true: there’s a need for sustainability expertise and experience, and a desire to pursue the opportunity.
Flourish: Profits, people, and the planet
Let’s not kid ourselves; profitability is immensely important and is undoubtedly a key focus, but there’s much more to making an organization successful. You’ll start to flourish when you decrease energy and material waste, bolster your reputation, mitigate risks, reduce operational emissions, make raving fans out of your employees and clients, and increase market share. Yes, believe it or not, all of these things can happen as a result of integrating sustainable strategies into your organization’s fabric. Ultimately, it’s about making choices that are good for profits, people, and the planet.
Case Studies
Omaha Public Schools
Our work with the state of Nebraska's largest school district (47,000+ students and 7,300+ staff) began in late 2009 when we completed an Energy Action Plan. The plan's foundation was an Energy Star rating for every school, upon which several energy and resource conservation strategies were built. We identified opportunities for increased efficiency in several areas, and the plan specified strategies to save money and improve the district's environmental footprint.
Once the plan was completed, the school district asked us to take the lead in implementing many of the strategies contained therein. We have been serving as the district's sustainability coordinator since July 2010 and established its Green Schools Initiative. The district later created a part-time position responsible for implementing the Green Schools Initiative, and together we are working to coordinate and implement sustainability strategies. It's a long-term endeavor that engages not only internal staff and administrators, but also includes students, parents, and other community members.
Our current focus is to write an updated Sustainability Master Plan for the District by revising goals, creating new and improved metrics, and updating strategies. We are excited to build on the great work that has already been completed by the district. The district’s cumulative energy savings over the last three years are $2.6 million. Emissions are down dramatically.
Landfill waste is at a sever-year low, and local and national awards are starting to stream in. In 2014, OPS won a district Green Ribbon Award, one of only nine school districts in the country. The Omaha Public School project has proven to be an excellent marriage of operational efficiencies coupled with organizational engagement.
To learn more about the project, check out the full case study at right.
Our work with the Omaha Public Schools has proven to be an excellent marriage of operational efficiencies coupled with organizational engagement. It's been an absolute treat to work with Omaha's youth.
Craig Moody
Principal and Project Manager
Verdis Group
Nebraska Medicine
Early in 2010, Nebraska Medicine learned that it was paying more per square foot in energy costs than the national average for hospitals; this despite the fact that Omaha's energy prices are among the lowest in the country. Nebraska Medicine was consuming far more energy per square foot than their national counterparts and something needed to change.
Our work began soon thereafter with an ENERGY STAR benchmarking of the entire campus; one of the more complex benchmarking exercises we’ve undertaken with 33 buildings and 4.2 million square feet included. The results clearly showed opportunities for energy efficiency increases were plentiful.
While completing the benchmark, we began facilitating Nebraska Medicine’s original green team: the Energy Advocates. It was an initiative just getting off the ground, and our effort focused on helping the team identify and prioritize energy-saving activities, creating a communication campaign, and administering a baseline survey. Through our partnership with Nebraska Medicine’s team of volunteers, we were able to engage folks from across the organization in conserving energy.
An important element in the organizational engagement process was the use of our Pledge Tool. Nebraska Medicine teamed up (competed) with UNMC on an organization-wide pledge to conserve energy and resources. The tasks to which pledgees committed were simple yet impactful. Our online pledge platform provided an easy means by which nearly 5,000 people could participate, and its unique, automated email reminders and public recognition component have ensured that pledgees stick to their commitment.
Soon after completing the ENERGY STAR benchmarking, Nebraska Medicine’s executives asked us to develop an Energy and Sustainability Master Plan. Using the Green Guide for Healthcare's Operations Pilot as a foundation, we partnered with Kiewit Building Group to benchmark Nebraska Medicine’s performance versus the GGHC's LEED-like requirements over a total of 136 credits in categories such as Sustainable Sites, Transportation, Waste Management and Environmental Services.
Following the completion of the Sustainability Master Plan, the focus has been on implementation, which has included the expansion of the recycling system, several behavior-based energy conservation initiatives, operating room waste reduction efforts, and an employee engagement campaign. Collectively these efforts have driven down costs and pushed engagement levels to all-time highs.
To learn more about the project, check out the full case study at right.
Working with the Verdis team has been a valuable experience for us. Not only have they been a tremendous help in organizing our sustainability initiative, they have helped us lead a change in culture which has been truly amazing. They have been, and continue to be, an outstanding partner.
Don Futrell
Former Executive Director - Facilities
Management & Planning
Nebraska Medicine
Verdis helped us achieve a shift in culture that we could never have achieved on our own. Having their expertise on our side was absolutely critical to the success of such a large initiative.
Brandy Olson
Manager, Operations/Logistics and Process Improvement
Perioperative Services
Nebraska Medicine
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Our ongoing work with the University of Nebraska Medical Center generally falls into three categories: Organizational Engagement, Sustainability Master Planning, and Project Implementation. This three-fold approach continues to produce excellent results: reducing costs, curbing emissions, and engaging thousands of employees across the campus.
Our Organizational Engagement approach leverages our extensive knowledge in behavior change and employee engagement. We work closely with UNMC’s green team, LiveGreen, to build a campus of sustainability champions in every department. UNMC and The Nebraska Medical Center used our online Pledge Tool to hold a campus-wide pledge to conserve energy and resources. Nearly 5,000 participated, and the tool's unique, automated email reminders and public recognition component ensured follow-through.
The second element of our work with UNMC is the creation of their first-ever Sustainability Master Plan. There is a very strong connection between sustainability and health, and UNMC’s Plan will help them leverage and build upon this connection. The Plan charts a 10-year course and includes baselines, goals, and strategies in the areas of greenhouse gas emissions, energy, water, campus planning, materials, transportation, dining, and campus engagement.
Finally, the types of things we explore within the realm of Project Implementation have been quite varied. From mapping out a major
enhancement to the campus’ recycling process, to developing a request for proposal for waste hauling services; we are able to focus our expertise and resources where they are most needed.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center, much like all other governmental entities, is stretching for every dollar, and they view our work as an integral part of their quest to conserve energy, save money and minimize their environmental impact.
To learn more about the project, check out the full case study at right.
The Verdis team offered invaluable support and guidance as we moved forward with our green efforts. Their methods are backed by research, and they have strong knowledge of how to enact behavior change on a large scale. Thanks to Verdis, we now have an initiative that benefits the environment, saves money, and increases employee satisfaction.
Melanie Stewart
Research Resources Manager
LiveGreen Coordinator
UNMC
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
Our work with the state of Nebraska's largest tourist destination began in January 2012. Over the course of the first five months, we created their first ever Sustainability Master Plan, which pinpoints opportunities for increased efficiency across all areas of the Zoo's operations. The Master Plan incorporated input from several sources, including but not limited to: Zoo staff from all levels, best practices at other zoos, surveys of both staff and the public, site visits, and loads and loads of data. We collected and analyzed quite a bit of information and boiled it down to the most relevant opportunities.
Naturally working with a zoo presents a whole new batch of unique challenges and opportunities to consider that don't necessarily apply to a traditional office setting. After all, we don't recall the last time we saw a giraffe forget to duplex print a TPS Report. The Zoo is preparing for growth, both in attendance and in square feet. Its conservation-based mission presents a great opportunity for us to look for innovative strategies that provide environmental, economic, and community benefits.
Once the Master Plan wrapped up, we turned our attention to implementation and engagement, which has kept us and our key stakeholders at the Zoo busy. We rolled out the online Pledge Tool, applied for and were awarded grants to ramp up recycling efforts and conduct a composting study, led a lighting retrofit, and helped the Zoo set up a Green Revolving Fund. The results have been great thus far with $130,000 in annual estimated savings and $50,000 in new grants obtained.
We continue to be involved as the Zoo pushes its way through major implementation efforts. They had many conservation-related successes prior to our partnership; leveraging those to reduce energy and resource consumption is happening successfully. The Zoo is off and running.
To learn more about the project, check out the full case study at right.
We wanted to take an organized, well-thought-out approach to improving sustainability, and Verdis fit the bill perfectly. They brought multiple disciplines together to create our plan, implement action steps, and change the way our entire organization thinks on an individual level about the wise use of precious resources.
Dennis Pate
Executive Director and CEO
Henry Doorly Zoo
Metropolitan Community College
Our work with Metropolitan Community College (MCC) began in mid-2009 when the college hired Daniel as its first full-time Sustainability Coordinator to integrate sustainability into its classes, campus operations, and community partnerships.
Our first projects included the Pass to Class transit program for students and development of a strategic Sustainability Master Plan to guide sustainability implementation into the future.
Momentum from early action and a thoughtful road map set the college up for success over the long-term. In the first four years after its commitment to integrate sustainability into the way the college operates and educates, MCC (1) created a department of Campus Planning and Sustainability to further advance sustainability into the institution’s culture and identity, (2) developed new curriculum in solar technology, home energy professionals, and other sustainability technology to ensure its students had access to relevant green job
training, and (3) improved the efficiency and effectiveness of resource use throughout the college’s operations.
With this foundation, MCC continues to lead the community as an example of sustainability in practice, truly living the benefits of the triple bottom line.
To learn more about the project, check out the full case study at right.
Daniel Lawse of Verdis Group helped our college develop its present sustainability efforts and positioned us for future progress. He was skillful in helping the various stakeholders, from faculty to staff, understand the need for sustainability to be embedded into the culture of the organization. Holistic thinking, clearly communicated is his forte.
Stan Horrell
Director, Campus Planning and Sustainability
Metropolitan Community College
Energy Elements
Many cities and counties are exploring ways that they can incorporate sustainability into their master plans. The first and most important place to start is by looking at energy and including an Energy Element in the master plan. To date we have worked on two such projects.
First, Sarpy County. It may be the smallest county in Nebraska, geographically, but it is also the fastest growing in terms
of population. In the spring of 2011, Sarpy County recognized the potential to save money by reducing energy, and sought a project team to complete an energy element for the county's master plan. Verdis was awarded the contract for this important endeavor, alongside our frequent teammates at Lamp, Rynearson & Associates and Steven Jensen Consulting.
Our focus on the team was to analyze the county’s energy data and identify strategies by which the county and its citizens could be more energy resilient. Such an approach involved both in-depth number crunching and facilitating a coalition of 30+ stakeholders: a two-fold approach the proved to be highly effective – the team recently won an award for the project from the Nebraska Chapter of the American Planning Association.
More recently, we partnered with RDG Planning & Design to prepare the energy element of the City of Papillion’s master plan update. The focus for our piece of the work was driven almost exclusively by data. We studied data from both the City operations and the city at-large, and developed a plan that synched up with what RDG was creating. The streamlined approach works well for cities and counties looking to incorporate energy elements into their planning processes.
To learn more about the Sarpy project, check out the full case study at right.
Incorporating an energy element into a city or county master plan shows stewardship of taxpayer resources, helps us be more energy independent and secure, and is good for the environment. I expect Sarpy will reap the rewards for many years to come.
Patrick McAtee
Senior Associate & Project Lead
Verdis Group
Kearney Public Schools
We began our work with Kearney Public Schools (enrollment: 5,000) in June of 2013. Kearney was looking for an affordable action plan that would be a roadmap to save resources and money, and our Sustainability Master Plan fit the bill. Focused on finding the appropriate strategies for the already energy-efficient district, we carefully tailored the plan to the size and scope of Kearney’s needs.
Published in December 2013, the comprehensive plan includes goals and strategies for waste reduction, energy efficiency, green construction, water reduction, and engagement. To educate all stakeholders from parents to students, a Green Schools Initiative webpage was also designed for the KPS website.
Once the plan was finished, we focused heavily on engagement by facilitating the creation of green teams in schools, building data reporting tools, deploying our online pledge and dashboard tools, and planning a Green Schools Challenge program. The Green Schools Challenge will span the 2014–15 academic year and is designed to increase energy efficiency in schools and engage the school staff and students in small but meaningful efforts.
We will continue these activities as the district’s sustainability coordinator through August of 2015. We look forward to supporting and facilitating Kearney’s already great progress.
To learn more about the project, check out the full case study at right.
Our work in the K12 sector took a major step forward with this project. We scaled the project scope to address Kearney Public Schools' uniqueness, and the engagement programs we're putting in place are innovative and effective.
Craig Moody
Principal and Project Manager
Verdis Group
University of Nebraska-Omaha
Our work with University of Nebraska-Omaha (enrollment: 15,000+) began in early 2014. Since then, we’ve been working alongside its chancellor-appointed sustainability committee to create a Sustainability Master Plan. The university’s existing sustainability successes, including its aspirations to instill a culture of sustainability, warrant further planning to sensibly reduce consumption and waste of natural and material resources.
We’ve analyzed several performance metrics and spoken with or surveyed several hundred faculty, staff, administrators, students, and community members. This information has helped us set improvement goals for 2025 and beyond, which will be formalized in the plan.
The plan will prioritize detailed strategies to help the university reach or exceed its target goals. These strategies will range from operational changes at particular campus buildings to engagement campaigns for students and employees. The strategies will also include recommendations regarding curriculum, policy & cooperation, and community engagement – making this one of Verdis’ most comprehensive projects.
With UNO’s plan, the university will position itself to be a local and national leader with regards to sustainability in higher education.
To learn more about the project, check out the full case study at right.
We are excited to deliver the high level of stakeholder engagement that UNO desired throughout its planning process. Hearing from so many voices has been enlightening and informative. As a result, we are going to have an immensely comprehensive plan that has been built from the ground up. The plan will position UNO to be recognized and celebrated for its exciting sustainability successes.
Craig Moody
Principal and Project Manager
Verdis Group
The Triple Bottom Line
sustainability strategy
The cornerstone of our work and the foundation of every good sustainability initiative is an energy and sustainability master plan. Our catered, comprehensive and collaborative approach generates a road map of strategies that will align sustainability with your organizational mission and goals.
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Establish a Baseline.
The process begins with the collection and analysis of several different datasets in order to establish important benchmarks. We help you identify where you stand today, determine what your core environmental and social impacts are, benchmark your resource consumption patterns and greenhouse gas emissions, and establish the foundation upon which to build your plan and measure future progress.
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Organizational Alignment.
We work with people throughout your organization to synch energy and sustainability benchmarks with the broader, overarching organizational mission and goals. Sustainability is best viewed as a strategy by which an organization can achieve its full potential. Every organization is different with distinctive sets of values and aspirations, and aligning it all is critical.
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The Master Plan.
With the foundation built, we engage key stakeholders in developing and prioritizing the goals and strategies of the Sustainability Master Plan. The completed Plan is thorough yet succinct and includes all the right elements to help you take advantage of the sustainability opportunities most applicable to your organization. It’s a road map that will tell you where you’re going and how to get there.
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Engage & Implement.
Creating a path forward via the Master Plan is an important outcome, but a good plan doesn’t truly result in any tangible results; it must be rolled out and implemented. We use research-supported strategies to engage the entire organization and build a culture that unabashedly adopts sustainability as a key strategy, and we help you get busy implementing all the strategies outlined in the Master Plan.
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Measure & Re-evaluate.
As part of the master planning process, we develop tools that make it easy to track your progress. It’s important to regularly and frequently take stock of what has been accomplished and where you’re headed next. As we learn together, we can consider revisions to the path forward in light of the information at hand. Things can change, and we’ll help you be resilient and adaptable.
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Talk it Up.
Once you've taken a great leap forward and have successes to tout, it's time to shout it from the rooftops. We will help you cater your message to your target audience. Whether they are customers, citizens, students, or attendees, the steps you've taken will make them more loyal to your organization.
Other Stuff.
Every organization seems to occasionally have an issue or two arise that require some in-depth analysis. When it comes to sustainability, we can help make the research and analysis more accurate, efficient, and complete.
We understand that not every organization has either the capacity or the aspirations to line the rooftop with solar panels. That’s why we align all of our work with your organization’s current mission and goals and cater the sustainability strategies accordingly, in essence helping you find the shade of green that best suits your organization.
Blog
Are you recycling your energy investments? Learn about a way to evaluate your sustainability related investments to create a sustainable funding source for energy projects. Read More »
We are beyond excited to announce that Kim Morrow will be joining our team on May 31, 2016! Originally from California, Kim has worked in the sustainability and climate fields in Nebraska for the past six years. She has experience in sustainability consulting, clean energy advocacy, faith-based climate advocacy, higher education, policy work and fundraising. Prior […] Read More »
Omaha’s waste and recycling programs have been in the spotlight lately as new proposals from Waste Management to reform the current collection methods draw public attention. These changes could not come sooner, with the current state of Omaha’s recycling program lagging behind all neighboring states. A recent World-Herald analysis found that Nebraskans rank fifth in […] Read More »
OPPD is considering a rate restructuring, which the Board of Directors will discuss November 12th. The proposed change would increase the basic service charge for residential and small business customers from $123/year to $420/year in fixed charges while slightly decreasing consumption costs. To give this ‘basic service charge’ some context, the Wall Street Journal reported […] Read More »
When you hire exceptional people, you should expect that they’ll be regularly presented with offers for other jobs. It’s something we expect to happen. The alternative – hiring a bunch of monkeys that nobody wants – may mean we don’t need to worry about employee poachers, but it also means we’re not going to perform at […] Read More »
