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CHAPTER

Staying Green

ost of a rocket’s fuel is spent getting into space. Once the rocket is out of
the atmosphere, it’s easier—takes less energy—to keep it moving toward its
Mdestination than it did to get it 100 feet off of the ground. It’s the same way with
greening your IT department. The hardest part is figuring out how to do it and actually
getting started. Once you figure out what to do, how to do it, and actually get going, it’ll be
easier to maintain your momentum.
But once you get going, you still need to make some in-flight corrections in order to get
to your destination. This chapter looks at some of the things you should do to keep on
target and to help your organization get the greenest IT department it can get.

Organizational Checkups
There are some overall adjustments you might consider for your organization—not just
in the details of your green plan, but in how you approach the plan’s implementation.
This will involve putting people in new roles and keeping important people—such as
the CEO—sold on the merits of a green plan.

Chief Green Officer
It’s no secret that going green is a one-two punch of benefits—the environment benefits,
and your organization benefits. However, it’s not an easy process. Many organizations, as
part of their green initiatives, are adding to their C-suite by introducing a Chief Green
Officer (CGO). This person has the overall responsibility to make sure the company is
meeting its green goals and looking for ways to do an even better job.

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Financial Chief Information Chief Green
Officer Officer Officer

Lobby for the addition of a Chief Green
Officer (CGO) to your organization.
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