Contact us for additional information or if you have questions/comments.
1) What does it mean to become "sustainable"? From MakeMeSustainable
2) Why did MMS choose NativeEnergy and Energy Federation Incorporated ("EFI") as affiliates? From JDilwort
3) I am moving next week. How can I change my profile? From thakep01
4) How can I learn more about what my environmental impact means? What does it mean when I say carbon? From khayman
5) What are Carbon Offsets? From Samfoh
6) Why is there such a focus on carbon, what about water and waste? From Tiffmonkeyfish
7) Can I upload pictures of my solar panels? From zaarons
8) What exactly is Global Warming? I know it's related to environmental concerns, but how? From Lynnebreslin
9) I am mostly vegetarian, always carry a travel coffee mug and refuse to drink bottled water. Why don't you have any sustainable actions for these eco-friendly activities? From sara
10) What exactly is a Carbon Footprint? How does MakeMeSustainable calculate my carbon footprint and energy costs? From thakep01
11) How do I receive my 10% discount through Energy Federation Incorporated? From Jack
12) I'd like to purchase certain energy efficient products that are not in the Actions section. Can I still do this through the site and receive a 10% discount? From Jack
13) How can I help grow the MMS Community? From brettegg
14) Is the site available anywhere outside the United States? From makeme
1) What does it mean to become "sustainable"?
To be sustainable is to consciously and systematically strive to improve our environmental, economic and financial future for an individual, family and community. Sustainability reaches beyond our personalized actions. To be sustainable we need to educate, share and empower others to participate in the environmental and economic savings. Sustainability hinges on the idea of spreading the word, gathering the masses and creating avenues for positive change in order to make a lasting difference. Individually each of us is a drop in the bucket. Together we make a splash. This is the importance of infusing the ideas of sustainability into a community movement.
2) Why did MMS choose NativeEnergy and Energy Federation Incorporated ("EFI") as affiliates?
We chose NativeEnergy and EFI based on our shared mission of long-term socially responsible environmental change, and great service. These affiliations are not exclusive and we look forward to expanding offerings for our community. For more on our affiliates see NativeEnergy and EFI.
3) I am moving next week. How can I change my profile?
You can update all aspects of your profile including your personal information, such as address, housing, contact information, energy bills, transportation, and travel information through the "Update Profile" function.
4) How can I learn more about what my environmental impact means? What does it mean when I say carbon?
In your environmental impact summary, you will see there is a "context" tab. This tab breaks down your carbon reductions in terms of cars taken off the road so that you can begin to understand what your actions and your carbon reductions actually mean. If you would like to learn more about carbon in general see the Learn More Section.
5) What are Carbon Offsets?
Carbon Offsets are a mechanism for supporting renewable energy, energy conservation or reforestation projects that either displace, prevent or sequester carbon. They enable individuals and businesses to take accountibility their carbon footprint. To read a more detailed explination about carbon offsets see the Learn More Section.
6) Why is there such a focus on carbon, what about water and waste?
Clearly the concepts of sustainability and environmental responsibility reach far beyond a carbon footprint. Our consumption requires massive amounts of water and produces various forms hazardous and non-hazardous waste. We chose to focus on carbon initially, because it is a metric that people are beginning to understand and provides a gateway into a broader understanding of the environmental problems we face.
7) I would like to upload pictures of my solar panels, can I do this?
We are currently building picture upload functionality for your Profile and Groups pages and developing a My Sustainable Pictures section.
8) What exactly does Global Warming mean? I know it's related to environmental concerns, but how?
At its most basic, global warming is the increase in the earth's surface and ocean temperatures. While the earth's temperature fluctuates naturally due to solar activity, volcanic eruptions and the earth's orbital position, the significant increase in man-made greenhouse gases over the past century is thought to be a major cause in global warming today. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes, "most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic (human-induced) greenhouse gas concentrations."
9) I am mostly vegetarian, always carry a travel coffee mug and refuse to drink bottled water. Why don't you have any sustainable actions for these eco-friendly activities?
We have initially concentrated on sustainable actions that are associated with energy consumption (electricity, heating, transportation, and travel). We encourage lifestyle actions such as yours and give you the tool to tell others about them through your Sustainable Notes on your profile. We are in the process of developing a "Lifestyle Actions" section which will provide a more seamless integration into the site in the near future.
10) What exactly is a Carbon Footprint? How does MakeMeSustainable calculate my carbon footprint and energy costs?
Your Carbon Footprint is your estimated environmental impact based on electricity, heating, transportation and air travel factors. We use robust data on local energy prices and carbon data with rigorously designed algorithms to calculate your carbon footprint and energy costs. The more information you upload regarding your energy usage (update your energy in the Manager section), the more accurate the footprint estimate. See the Learn More section for more info on our sources and assumptions.
11) How do I receive my 10% discount through Energy Federation Incorporated (EFI)?
Simple, in the EFI checkout procedure there is a discount code option. Type in the discount code, "sustainable" to receive MMS' 10% discount on all purchases.
12) I'd like to purchase certain energy efficient products through Energy Federation Incorporated (EFI) that are not in the Actions section. Can I still receive a 10% discount?
Yes, all purchases made through EFI from MakeMeSustainable receive a 10% discount. Just enter the discount code "sustainable" in the EFI checkout.
13) How can I help grow the MMS Community?
Invite friends, family and colleagues to join. Create groups for your office, local organization, and college alumni. Talk to your local cafe, restaurant and retail stores about what they are doing to be sustainable. Tell them about the site, and if you are motivated enough, you can offer to help them create a profile. The MMS community was designed to give everyone the ability to be a leader for environmental, grassroots change.
14) Is the site available anywhere outside the United States?
Currently the site is only available to users with a residence or business within the U.S. This is primarily due to the robust nature of the data underlying MakeMeSustainable's tools. As we continue through the Beta phase of the site, we will gather and incorporate data for other countries in order to make the site available internationally.