A Green Team is a group of motivated staff, representative of ALL organizational disciplines that learn and work together to improve the organization’s environmental impact, reduce costs, and create a healthier place to work. In this series, we will explore the top ten essential components of a successful Green Team program.

10. Continually Improve

The journey toward sustainability is an ongoing process and there is always room for improvement.  Continually monitor the plans to ensure that goals are being met and be ready to make adjustments for any obstacles.  Build this discussion into the monthly Green Team meeting agenda. Seek input from the Green Team, staff and stakeholders as an integral part of this evolving process.

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#1 Leadership Commitment

#2 Open Invitation

#3 Allow the Team to Warm Up

#4 Effective Green Team Meetings

#5  Assess for Success!

#6 Brand the Green Team

#7 Communicate Widely

#8 Educational Events

#9 Celebrate Success!

A Green Team is a group of motivated staff, representative of ALL organizational disciplines that learn and work together to improve the organization’s environmental impact, reduce costs, and create a healthier place to work. In this series, we will explore the top ten essential components of a successful Green Team program.

9. Celebrate Success!

Leadership recognition of the Green Team’s efforts and accomplishments lends credibility and publicly demonstrates respect for the program. This also serves to encourage others to participate. Publishing information that demonstrates reduced costs, improved efficiency, and enhanced environmental performance promotes accountability and information sharing. Acknowledge and reward staff that has shown great participation, initiative and creativity.  Consider rewards related to sustainability such as a CSA membership (local farm produce share), a green gift basket of cleaning/personal products, or a bottle of organic wine.  Plan a company or community event such as a Green Fair to create awareness and share your commitment to sustainability with the public.

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Stay tuned for Green Team Top 10 – #10 Continually Improve

Green Team Top 10:

#1 Leadership Commitment

#2 Open Invitation

#3 Allow the Team to Warm Up

#4 Effective Green Team Meetings

#5  Assess for Success!

#6 Brand the Green Team

#7 Communicate Widely

#8 Educational Events

Sweet Grass Grill, Tarrytown, NY

2/28/12 – Green Drinks Westchester returned to the Sweet Grass Grill and it was a wonderful evening! Our host, restaurant owner David Starkey (who also owns Tomatillo in Dobbs Ferry) served delicious samplings from his menu of locally raised food. Thank you David!!

Click here to view the album

A Green Team is a group of motivated staff, representative of ALL organizational disciplines that learn and work together to improve the organization’s environmental impact, reduce costs, and create a healthier place to work. In this series, we will explore the top ten essential components of a successful Green Team program.

8.  Educational Events

Hosting educational events is a great way to increase knowledge and awareness about sustainability among staff and stakeholders.  Start a “Lunch & Learn” series where experts are invited to speak to the group about pertinent topics.  Staff can bring their own lunch or the company can provide it.  Coordinate themed events with Green Team campaigns such as an “Electronic Waste Day” or a “Green Your Commute Day”.  Hold a Green Fair around Earth Day and invite local vendors and non-profit groups to participate.  Friendly competitions between different departments or office locations are another fun way to increase awareness and motivate behavior.

Learn more…

Stay tuned for Green Team Top 10 – #9 Celebrate Success!

Green Team Top 10:

#1 Leadership Commitment

#2 Open Invitation

#3 Allow the Team to Warm Up

#4 Effective Green Team Meetings

#5  Assess for Success!

#6 Brand the Green Team

#7 Communicate Widely

A Green Team is a group of motivated staff, representative of ALL organizational disciplines that learn and work together to improve the organization’s environmental impact, reduce costs, and create a healthier place to work. In this series, we will explore the top ten essential components of a successful Green Team program.

7.  Communicate Widely

Communicate Green Team activities and successes using a variety of vehicles such as email, websites, blogs and newsletters.  If staff does not have email access, post notices in break rooms or set up a centralized “White Board”.  Adding a web page to your company website is a great way to showcase the Green Team’s efforts and engage staff.  This can include a listing of member names, current campaigns, green tips, pledge cards, meeting calendars and a place to submit “green ideas”.  Prominently feature the Green Team logo on the website.  If appropriate, set up a Facebook Page or Group for your Green Team.  After the first year, an annual sustainability report can be issued to demonstrate your organization’s commitment and successful actions to the public.

Learn more…

Stay tuned for Green Team Top 10 – #8 Educational Events

Green Team Top 10:

#1 Leadership Commitment

#2 Open Invitation

#3 Allow the Team to Warm Up

#4 Effective Green Team Meetings

#5  Assess for Success!

#6 Brand the Green Team

Introduction by Dani Glaser of Green Team Spirit (representing the Westchester Green Business Challenge)
Presenter – Marc Karell, Climate Change & Environmental Services

The webinar shared some of the basics of climate change, the 9 purely business reasons to go “green”, and prudent initial steps in establishing a program that have been shown to better ensure success and maximum financial benefits in reducing one’s carbon footprint.

The Westchester Green Business Challenge, is a partnership of Westchester County Government and the Business Council of Westchester focused on helping all Westchester County businesses on the path to sustainability.

A Green Team is a group of motivated staff, representative of ALL organizational disciplines that learn and work together to improve the organization’s environmental impact, reduce costs, and create a healthier place to work. In this series, we will explore the top ten essential components of a successful Green Team program.

6. Brand the Green Team

Brand the Green Team by creating a logo and tagline that blends the business identity and sustainability mission.  The logo and tagline should be engaging and highly visible, appearing on all Green Team communications and media vehicles.  A great way to engage the entire organization about your green efforts is to hold a logo contest. Announce the winner at an organization-wide meeting.  Reward the winner by publicizing their name on the company website or offer an incentive such as “lunch with the company president”.

Learn more…

Stay tuned for Green Team Top 10 – #7 Communicate Widely

Green Team Top 10

#1 Leadership Commitment

#2 Open Invitation

#3 Allow the Team to Warm Up

#4 Effective Green Team Meetings

#5  Assess for Success!

A Green Team is a group of motivated staff, representative of ALL organizational disciplines that learn and work together to improve the organization’s environmental impact, reduce costs, and create a healthier place to work. In this series, we will explore the top ten essential components of a successful Green Team program.

5. Assess for Success!

Before beginning the first Green Team campaign, it is important to assess current performance and behaviors that impact sustainability in your workplace. Green Team Spirit Assess™ tools are designed to help you benchmark your current activities and performance as it relates to energy, water, waste, purchasing, and transportation.  Spreadsheet and survey tools make it easy for the Green Team to gather this critical data to run a well-informed campaign with clear, measurable reduction goals and strategies. The Green Team can serve as ambassadors in the Assessment process by conducting in person surveys, gathering information, and encouraging coworkers to participate in the audit.

Learn more…

Stay tuned for Green Team Top 10 – #6 Brand the Green Team

Green Team Top 10

#1 Leadership Commitment

#2 Open Invitation

#3 Allow the Team to Warm Up

#4 Effective Green Team Meetings

4. Effective Green Team Meetings

It is important for the Green Team to set a regular meeting schedule that works best for them, but occurs at least monthly. In between full team meetings, those who are working together on particular initiatives can collaborate as necessary.  Meetings should have a clear agenda that is emailed to the team in advance, seeking input on agenda items.  The Green Team Action Sheet™ is a planning tool that facilitates the discussion of actionable goals by assigning responsibility and setting the timeline and steps to achieve the goal.  Meetings allow team members to learn together and support each other to stay focused on the organization’s sustainability vision.

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Stay tuned for Green Team Top 10 – #5 Assess for Success!

Green Team Top 10

#1 Leadership Commitment

#2 Open Invitation

#3 Allow the Team to Warm Up

3. Allow the Team to Warm Up

It is likely that this is the first time that this cross-disciplinary group is working together as a company team.  It is important for members to get to know each other and learn what drives each person to participate on the Green Team.  A great way to do this is to hold a Facilitated First Meeting where members share their ideas about being greener at work, as well as what their particular interests and strengths are.  Some might be passionate about eliminating waste and increasing recycling… others may have ideas about switching from paper to electronic communications. This first meeting is a great icebreaker and marks the beginning of working together as an effective group.

Learn more…

Stay tuned for Green Team Top 10 – #4 Effective Green Team Meetings

Green Team Top 10

#1 Leadership Commitment

#2 Open Invitation