The following three-part process is done in parallel with each part reinforcing the other.

Part 1: Reduce business operations and employee carbon footprint.

• In not already done, assess business operations carbon footprint and identify energy efficiency cost savings and process improvements. Develop and implement a plan to reduce business operations carbon footprint.
• If not already done, assess each employee’s direct carbon footprint and identify opportunities for improvement and cost savings. Develop and implement a plan to reduce employee’s carbon footprint.

Part 2: Support employees to reduce their household carbon footprint.

• Host workshops in-house (“Global Warming Cafés”) to introduce the Low Carbon Diet to employees.
• At the end of each workshop, invite employees to form household-based EcoTeams – five to eight people who serve as a peer support group for completing the carbon-reduction program. (EcoTeams follow a series of four structured meetings guiding participants through the program’s carefully crafted carbon reduction actions. Households participating in the program reduce their carbon footprint by up to 25%.)
• Utilize employee household carbon reduction knowledge and motivation to help lead and sustain the business carbon reduction strategy.

Part 3: Help community residents reduce their carbon footprint.

As part of the company’s volunteer program interested employees who have participated in EcoTeams implement the Low Carbon Diet program in their community. Called a Cool Community campaign, its goal is to empower citizens to reduce their carbon footprint using Low Carbon Diet. The following strategy is designed to enable that outcome.

1. Identify the carbon footprint of the residential sector of the community so individuals can understand their potential impact.
2. Set a CO2 reduction and citizen participation target so community members have concrete goals to achieve.
3. Bring together local organizations across all sectors of the community to serve as partners in implementing the campaign. This allows the community to align in common cause while reaping the additional benefit of greater connectivity to address future issues.
4. Facilitate an empowerment training for partner organizations to teach them the behavior change, community engagement and coaching tools needed to form and support effective EcoTeams. This is followed up with coaching to support their efforts. This builds local capacity and amplifies the potential number of community members reached.