You’ve seen the list: 100 ways you can go green. Whether you’re a homeowner or a business owner, at first glance this list looks like a good idea. You’ve decided to join the new mainstream: buy organic, local food, install a solar panel on the roof, use non-toxic cleaning products, trade in your gas guzzling fleet of trucks for hybrids, and so on. Sound familiar? The problem is, among the 100 things you could do to go green, there are at most one or two things you should do right now—based on more than just a desire to do something green.

Think about it: Why is installing a solar array in the same category as recycling cans? One can cost tens of thousands of dollars while the other is virtually free. In the rush to go green because of the pull of customer demand and the push of new compliance rules, many organizations leap before they think and spend energy, money, and valuable time for green initiatives that may have nothing to do with your business, your customers could care less, and the outcomes are not visible because they aren’t measurable.

Try something else: Rather than deploying your green initiatives in a spray and pray method, hoping something sticks with your stakeholders and you can reclaim some of your cost, consider reflecting on a few questions and take a few baby steps first to prevent losing time, money, and possibly respect from your employees, customers, buyers, and other stakeholders.

Question 1: How do you define green?
It’s a simple question, but take the time to explore the meaning of going green and the implications it will signify in your business sector and the region you are in, especially in terms of availability of products and value to your customer. Ask your customers or your buyers. You’ll be surprised by some of the answers and suggestions for your business.

Question 2: What time and resources do I have available for green initiatives?
Again, another simple question but you must consider the budget and time of yourself and others to ensure you don’t run out of either funds or energy before you’ve had a chance to complete your project. Consider also how you will sustain the effort after the first attempt.

Once you have reflected on these questions, consider the following steps:

1. Choose no more than two green projects that you know you can support and maintain. It doesn’t have to be an expensive project but choose a project that makes sense for your business that may not be something as visible as a grove of windmills on your property.
2. Keep an accounting of time, resources, and outcomes in terms of customer responses, stakeholder buy-in, and employee opinion. Were there any cost savings? Increase in sales? Positive changes in employee morale?
3. After deployment of your initiative, revisit the questions of how you define green for your business and what resources do you have to maintain your current project and possibly add another. Keep in mind that your customers and buyers could be your best source of new ideas and support.

So instead of taking on all 100 things you can do to go green – choose the right project, right time, and with the right outcomes. Whether your company is just you or you have thousands of employees, going green is fast becoming a competitive factor in your strategic planning. Take the time to reflect, plan, and ask advice from stakeholders to avoid an embarrassing or costly mistakes – and deploy your green projects with confidence.