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Get started with EcoEvents

This guide will walk you through setting up your EcoEvents account and creating your first sustainable event. You’ll learn how to configure sustainability settings, invite attendees, and view your environmental impact metrics.
1

Create your account

Sign up for EcoEvents and complete your organization profile.
  1. Visit the EcoEvents signup page
  2. Enter your organization details:
    • Organization name: Your company or organization
    • Email: Your work email address
    • Password: At least 8 characters with one number
  3. Click Create Account
  4. Verify your email address by clicking the link sent to your inbox
Use your organization’s domain email for easier team member invitations later.
After verification, you’ll be redirected to your dashboard where you can start creating events.
2

Create your first event

Set up a new event with sustainability goals and environmental tracking.From your dashboard, click Create Event in the top right corner, or navigate to the Events tab and click + New Event.

Configure Event Details

Fill out the basic information about your event:
name
string
required
The name of your event (e.g., “Annual Tech Summit 2026”)
date
date
required
Event start date and time
location
string
required
Venue address or “Virtual” for online events
expectedAttendees
number
required
Estimated number of participants (used for carbon calculations)
import { useState } from 'react';

function CreateEvent() {
  const [event, setEvent] = useState({
    name: '',
    date: '',
    location: '',
    expectedAttendees: 0,
    sustainabilityGoals: []
  });
  
  const handleSubmit = async (e) => {
    e.preventDefault();
    const response = await fetch('/api/events', {
      method: 'POST',
      headers: {
        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
        'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}`
      },
      body: JSON.stringify(event)
    });
    
    const newEvent = await response.json();
    console.log('Event created:', newEvent);
  };
  
  return (
    <form onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
      <input
        type="text"
        placeholder="Event name"
        value={event.name}
        onChange={(e) => setEvent({...event, name: e.target.value})}
      />
      {/* Additional fields */}
      <button type="submit">Create Event</button>
    </form>
  );
}

Set Sustainability Goals

Choose the environmental initiatives you want to track for this event:
Track and offset all carbon emissions from travel, venue energy, and catering
Minimize waste through composting, recycling, and reusable materials
Prioritize local vendors, food suppliers, and materials to reduce transportation emissions
Use venues powered by renewable energy sources
Reduce travel emissions by offering remote participation
EcoEvents automatically calculates baseline carbon emissions based on your event type, location, and attendee count. You can view detailed breakdowns in the Analytics section.
Click Create Event to save your event. You’ll be redirected to the event dashboard.
3

Invite attendees

Add participants and track registrations for your event.

Bulk Invite via CSV

The fastest way to invite multiple attendees:
  1. Click Attendees in the event sidebar
  2. Click Import CSV
  3. Upload a CSV file with columns: email, firstName, lastName, organization
  4. Review the preview and click Send Invitations
Download our CSV template for the correct format.

Individual Invitations

function InviteAttendee({ eventId }) {
  const [email, setEmail] = useState('');
  
  const sendInvite = async () => {
    const response = await fetch(`/api/events/${eventId}/invites`, {
      method: 'POST',
      headers: {
        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
        'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}`
      },
      body: JSON.stringify({
        email,
        role: 'attendee',
        sendEmail: true
      })
    });
    
    if (response.ok) {
      alert('Invitation sent!');
    }
  };
  
  return (
    <div>
      <input
        type="email"
        value={email}
        onChange={(e) => setEmail(e.target.value)}
        placeholder="[email protected]"
      />
      <button onClick={sendInvite}>Send Invite</button>
    </div>
  );
}

Customize Invitation Settings

Customize the invitation email with your branding:
  • Subject line: Event name is automatically included
  • Message: Add a personal note or event highlights
  • RSVP deadline: Set a registration cutoff date
  • Sustainability pledge: Ask attendees to commit to eco-friendly practices
Enable Transportation Tracking in your event settings to automatically calculate travel-related carbon emissions based on attendee responses.
4

View sustainability metrics

Monitor your event’s environmental impact in real-time.

Access the Analytics Dashboard

Navigate to Analytics in your event sidebar to view comprehensive sustainability metrics.

Key Metrics to Track

Carbon Footprint

Total CO₂ emissions in tonnes, broken down by category:
  • Travel (attendee transportation)
  • Venue (energy consumption)
  • Catering (food production and waste)
  • Materials (printed materials, signage)

Waste Reduction

Track waste diversion rates:
  • Total waste generated
  • Recycling rate
  • Composting rate
  • Landfill diversion percentage

Local Impact

Monitor local sourcing goals:
  • Percentage of local vendors
  • Miles saved from local sourcing
  • Support for local businesses

Attendee Actions

Track participant engagement:
  • Carpools organized
  • Public transit usage
  • Digital-first attendees
  • Sustainability pledges signed

Example Analytics Query

import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';

function EventAnalytics({ eventId }) {
  const [metrics, setMetrics] = useState(null);
  
  useEffect(() => {
    fetch(`/api/events/${eventId}/analytics`, {
      headers: {
        'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}`
      }
    })
      .then(res => res.json())
      .then(data => setMetrics(data));
  }, [eventId]);
  
  if (!metrics) return <div>Loading...</div>;
  
  return (
    <div>
      <h2>Sustainability Metrics</h2>
      <div>
        <h3>Carbon Footprint</h3>
        <p>{metrics.carbonFootprint.total} tonnes CO₂e</p>
        <ul>
          <li>Travel: {metrics.carbonFootprint.travel} t</li>
          <li>Venue: {metrics.carbonFootprint.venue} t</li>
          <li>Catering: {metrics.carbonFootprint.catering} t</li>
        </ul>
      </div>
      
      <div>
        <h3>Waste Diversion</h3>
        <p>{metrics.wasteStats.diversionRate}% diverted from landfill</p>
      </div>
    </div>
  );
}

Generate Reports

Create shareable sustainability reports for stakeholders:
  1. Click Generate Report in the Analytics dashboard
  2. Select report type:
    • Executive Summary: High-level metrics and achievements
    • Detailed Analysis: Comprehensive breakdown with recommendations
    • Comparison Report: Compare with similar events or industry benchmarks
  3. Choose format: PDF, CSV, or interactive web report
  4. Share directly via email or download for distribution
Reports include visual charts, year-over-year comparisons, and actionable recommendations for improving sustainability in future events.

Next Steps

Now that you’ve created your first event, explore these features to maximize your impact:

Event Management

Learn advanced event configuration and management features

Tracking Impact

Learn how to measure and reduce your event’s environmental impact

API Integration

Integrate EcoEvents with your existing tools and workflows

Managing Attendees

Handle registrations, check-ins, and attendee communications

Technology Stack

EcoEvents is built with modern, scalable technologies:
  • Frontend: React 19 with TypeScript and Vite
  • Backend: Express 5 with Node.js
  • Database: PostgreSQL with Sequelize ORM
  • API: RESTful architecture with JWT authentication
Check out our GitHub repository to explore the codebase and contribute.

Need Help?

Documentation

Browse the complete documentation

Support

Contact our support team

GitHub Repository

Explore the source code and contribute

Integrations

Connect with your favorite tools and services

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