More About the Green Teams Project

History of the Green Teams Project:

The Palo Alto Neighborhood Green Teams project is part of the Neighborhood Segment of the Palo Alto Community Environmental Partnership (CEAP). In 2008 the City of Palo Alto and community groups came together to create CEAP in accordance with the recommendations made by the Green Ribbon Task Force on Climate Protection and the Palo Alto Climate Protection Plan. CEAP's mission is to bring the various segments of the community together to share knowledge, build mutual understanding, leverage resources, and both create and implement innovative environmental solutions.

Joining CEAP is a chance to get involved, create positive change, and have a voice in the direction taken by your community.

The climate protection challenges facing Palo Alto (and the planet) are large, complex, and life-changing. In many cases the solutions to these challenges will alter the way we live our daily lives and conduct our business practices. The solutions must be innovative and collaborative, recognizing the different needs and constraints of the various segments of our community. Through broad community participation, we can create 'livable, and 'doable' solutions--the more people who contribute, the more effective the solutions.

Palo Alto Neighborhood Green Teams:

The Palo Alto Neighborhood Green Teams were launched in 2008 to foster education, dialog and awareness about environmental issues and identify, create and implement sustainable environmental solutions in the neighborhoods of Palo Alto. We have Green Teams in schools and at work, why not in our neighborhoods?

Green Teams are about action! Some of our projects since our launch in 2008 include:

• Created a flyer with information on how to lower your carbon footprint "You've Changed Your Light Bulbs, So What's the Next Step? – delivered city wide for the Red & Green Community Event and used at neighborhood and Green Team events to educate and increase awareness and support for reducing carbon footprint.
• Hosted a Green Home Tour in Barron Park including homes with solar panels, passive solar design, native gardens and other environmental designs.
• Hosted Low Carbon Diet Classes which are small group classes working on reducing carbon footprint.
• Greened neighborhood events bringing recycling and compostable products to neighborhood activities.
• Bike Palo Alto! 2010 - a fun bike event where participants learned about Palo Alto's great bike routes as well as received local biking and safety information and free maintenance.

In addition to taking action, Green Teams also build community. Participating in a Neighborhood Green Teams is a chance to meet your neighbors and have fun! Green Teams are designed to fit the Neighborhood - each Neighborhood chooses their projects and activities. Time commitment and level of participation is up to the members. Even a few hours a month can make a difference! The Palo Alto Green Teams project has many project ideas and assistance available for neighborhoods, or they can create their own new projects. The commonality across teams is a focus on lowering our carbon footprint, creating community and a more sustainable Palo Alto.

Join in, meet your neighbors, help the planet and have fun!