How Eco-Teams Work

One or more EcoTeam initiators invites neighbors to an introduction to EcoTeams. The introduction is lead by the local program managers or an EcoTeam coach. At this meeting, people can join an EcoTeam and set a date for their first meeting.

In the initial meeting the team prepares for the program, creates a sense of team work, and chooses topic leaders for each of the remaining meetings. There is one meeting for each of the action areas: garbage, water, energy, transportation and consumption.

The EcoTeam then meets six more times, approximately every two weeks, to develop sustainable lifestyle practices in the action areas mentioned above. The sixth action area, "empowerment", enables the team to help others take action for the planet. Most team meetings last two hours. In between meetings, team members typically spend several hours to complete the "Earth Actions" they have chosen. Some examples of Earth actions are: using cloth bags instead of paper or plastic, bringing "take out" containers to restaurants, canceling junk mail, composting, repairing water and energy leaks, carpooling and making cars eco-efficient, to name just a few.

Before each meeting, EcoTeam members review the potential actions for the next topic from the EcoTeam workbook and decide which ones they will take.

At each meeting, EcoTeam members review the actions taken over the prior two weeks and then share their action plans for the next topic. Neighbors also discuss possible joint actions. The team helps each person fine tune their plan and provides support and inspiration to carry it out.

EcoTeam members have an opportunity to receive recognition as a United Nations Global Citizen. Each Earth Action that households take during the EcoTeam program has a point value based on effort or resources saved. Households that accumulate sufficient points will receive a Global Citizen certificate and a Global Citizen pin acknowledging a job well done.

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