Green Team Toolkit

How to Start a Green Team

Tools to get you started and motivated to take action. Every group is motivated differently and determines a path to creating a successful green team in their own way, so if there is something that has worked for you and it isn’t listed here, share it with the rest of green teams! Continual collaboration and sharing not only improves our effectiveness as green teams but makes our jobs easier! You can share your tools by clicking on ‘Want to Add Content?' to the left or by sharing it exclusively with other Forest Service employees on the FS Google Site. The first time you access the FS Google Site you'll need to click on 'create an account here.'

Organizing a Green Team

• What is a Green Team (.doc)
• Getting Started Checklist from the R9 (.xls)

Generating Ideas

Handouts

These handouts can be used to generate ideas to kick start your green team!

• Energy Reduction
  • Bunkhouse Energy Savings (pdf)
  • Energy Habits (pdf)
  • Secrets in your Utility Bills (pdf)
  • Top ten Facts Energy Usage (pdf)
• Water Conservation
  • Water top ten habits (pdf)
• Fleet and Transportation
  • Save gas (pdf)
  • Eco-Driving (pdf)
• Green Purchasing
  • Top 10 for Green Meetings (pdf)
  • Green Purchasing Flyer (pdf)
  • Guidance on Finding Green Products for Purchase (pdf)
• Waste Prevention and Recycling
  • 2007 Reference Recycling Guide (pdf)
  • Top 10 Solid waste Habits (pdf)
• Sustainable Leadership
  • Forest Service Conservation Leadership Vision Signed (pdf)
  • Sustainable Operations and Sustainable Conservation (pdf)
  • USDA Selected Sustainability and Stewardship Programs and Activities (pdf)

Web Links

Web resources to help idea generation

• FSWiki Green Team Link
• Resource listing for Green Team Organizers
• Great for kick-starting discussions and generating ideas by offering answers to a variety of environmental questions
• Region 9 Green Team Wiki - Contains a variety of great tools for action!
• Renewable Energy in Tourism Initiative
• THE best resource on the web assisting green teams to be more effective and successful provided by the Pollution Prevention Assistance Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Tracking Improvements and Taking Action

• Sample Action Plan from Pikes Peak Ranger District (pdf)

Example Charters

• Draft Charter from Bighorn National Forest (.doc)
• Charter from Medicine Bow Routt National Forest (.doc)

A Message from the Anna Jones-Crabtree

Sustainable Operations Coordinator,
Rocky Mountain and Northern Regions

"Every individual employee has the opportunity and responsibility to participate in sustainable operations. Green teams can harness the enthusisam of individual employees into actions that aren't doable by someone alone. There are incredible pragamatic things for new green teams to implement that make a difference right away. In fact the opportunities can be overwhelming at first but I suggest you look at all your options and then pick the ones that are doable and can help you garner momentum...... Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can. And by all means take time to celebrate your successes!" -- Anna Jones-Crabtree

This is a power point presentation that Anna gives that introduces the link of Climate Change and our Environmental Footprint. This presentation is inspirational and shares good facts about our agency and what each and every employee can do reduce our environmental footprint.

**Coming soon: a video presentation from Anna Jones-Crabtree**

• Our Environmental Footprint and Climate Change Connection 5-2008 (pdf)
• A conversation with Anna Jones-Crabtree on The Way Forward: Sustainable Business Operations

Executive Order Fact Sheet and Energy Act 2007

• Executive Order 13423
  • EO 13423 Factsheet (pdf)
  • EO 13423 Instructions (pdf)
• Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
  • Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 Major Provisions (pdf)

Sample Letter to Use for Your Leadership Team

• Sample Charter Letter from Medicine Bow Routt (.doc)