StartGreen.com » Green News for the Masses

StartGreen FAQ

What is StartGreen?

StartGreen is a community-based news and information site using the latest web application technologies, sometimes referred to as a social bookmarking system. StartGreen's front page concentrates articles which members of the community have "Voted" most. The front page consists of the most popular articles, chosen by our community.

How do I submit articles?

You must first register an account. Once you're a member, simply click on the green "Submit Articles" button on the right-hand side of the site. This will lead you through the process of submitting an article to the site. Once posted, the community will be able to review your article in the shout section of the site. If your article gains enough popularity, it will become front page news!

How else can I participate?

The best way to participate is to Submit and Vote quality articles on a daily basis.
Members are also encouraged to join community discussions in the comments area located below all articles.

How does an article get promoted to the front page?

All articles submitted by the community will reside in the Shout Articles section. This area of the site is like a news queue where recently added articles pend for member and administrative reviewal. Stay up to date with this section on a daily basis by using the "Shout Articles" button on the right hand side of the site. Once here, you will be able to browse and Shout articles that interest you. You may Shout articles which you approve of by simply clicking on the "Shout It" icon located to the left of every article. If the article you Shout gets enough Shouts, it will automatically be promoted to our main, front page feed.

How do I report bad or broken articles, as well as spam?

StartGreen allows its community to moderate articles by reporting problems to help ensure a quality selection of content.
Every article will have a "Report Problem" button beside it. If an article gets enough negative reports, it will be removed.

How do I report a bug I found on StartGreen?

If you happen to find a problem with StartGreen, please send a bug report to artem.momot@gmail.com.

Why Has My Article Disappeared?

Normal link submissions are automatically removed from the StartGreen database after 5 days if they have not reached the 'front page' of the site with a total of 15 shouts or do not meet the quality threshold as mandated by site guidelines. This automated rule does not currently apply for your blogs, images or video submissions.

Why Has My Account Been Locked/Banned?

Accounts that abuse StartGreen's submission system are routinely locked by content editors. If you feel your account was locked or banned by error, first review StartGreen's Guideline. If an account was locked or banned by an honest mistake on a user's part, it may be reopened after moderator review.

How Do I Tip StartGreen Staff to Breaking/Fresh Content

StartGreen is a fusion of community-generated content powered by community members and site editors. To ensure a frequent amount of fresh, quality and entertaining content cycles through the article system, StartGreen offers the community a chance to suggest an article a tip for it's greenlighting system, as well as push articles to front page via Voting. To participate in both phases of the system: Greenlighting Phase 1 If you currently have any pressing stories you would like to have reviewed for greenlit consideration to StartGreen's home page, submit story tips to staff. All appropriate tips will be archived for review by appropriate personnel. Remember, items that have interesting description and titles, and cover stories that tend to be historically well received and popular on StartGreen will be given priority consideration. Most greenlit items will be updated during times of slow site activity and/or when breaking news stories occur. All greenlit items currently are displayed on the site's front page queue. After several implementations are complete, greenlit items will be displayed in a front page module for your browsing convenience.

I Would Like To Contribute More to StartGreen, How Do I Join Staff?

We are always looking for more writing editors to join their StartGreen staff. If you have a bit of time on your hands and want to try your hand at writing, simply email artem.momot@gmail.com with a sample writing piece (.txt format). Qualified writers will be contacted to set up a time to interview.

I Have A Cool New Idea For The Site, Who Do I Tell?

Report all inquiries and requests to artem.momot@gmail.com.

I Am Getting An Annoying Ad/Site Bug/Other Annoyance on Site, Where Do I Report It?

Report all bugs and annoyances for StartGreen to artem.momot@gmail.com.

Guest Editors

Kim Carlson

Kim Carlson is an author, columnist and the founder of five successful companies that use earth-friendliness as their driving force. Carlson's book, "Green Your Work: Boost Your Bottom Line While Reducing Your Eco-Footprint"explores the many advantages of being an environmentally responsible business. Her latest venture is the development of the EarthSmart Consumer Certified, a retail product certification program devised in collaboration with the country's leading scientists, academics and environmentalists that will prove to be the most innovative environmental screening process to date. Kim Carlson is the January guest editor of Start Green. For more information on Kim, please visit her site http://www.earthsmartconsumer.com

Jaclyn Mullen

Jaclyn Mullen has one foot on the "green" carpet and one foot on the red carpet. She contributes for Your Daily Thread.com and Hollywire.com on all things "green and on the scene" in Los Angeles, CA. She is an avid social activist in her community, she belongs to Step Up Women's Network and is a 2009 Commitment To Philanthropy Award Winner. As a youth advocate, Jaclyn's main initiative is to simplify going green for kids and their families. She will be a recurring guest editor and contributor for Start Green.com

Green Tips

Green Your Closet

Make a few simple changes to your clothes shopping habits and your wardrobe will be green in no time: choose natural fabrics and organic cotton while accessorizing with vintage.

Green Your Wash

Find a less toxic dry cleaner and avoid the toxic chemical percloro-ethelene (PERC) which can cause cancer and contaminate water supplies.

Treat Your Pet With Green Loving Care

“Human quality” pet food is all the rage these days including meats that are raised in a humane and sustainable manner.

Use Common Sense Pest Control

Seal up holes and cracks around your home’s foundation and cut off a pest’s food and water supply before reaching for the poison.

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint Plant a Tree

Trees capture and hold carbon dioxide (a green house gas that is in a large part responsible for global warming) and provide shade that decreases the need for air-conditioning.

Go Green Within Your Network

They say there is strength in numbers for a reason. So grab a green buddy, whether it's your friend, mother, father, sister, co-worker of brother. Review the simple things you do to go green, search the net for green news and tips. See what you can do in your community to make things more eco efficient.

Recycle, recycle, recycle

If we are going to consume materials, let's make sure we explore ways for them to be repurposed and reused. Plastic that does not get recycled ends up in landfills and our oceans. More and more recycle centers are popping up and there are even a ton of recycling incentive programs (such as www.recyclebank.com and Think Green Rewards brought to you by Greenopolis.com

Get involved in your community

A big part of the green movement is volunteering. There was the whole "Green The Block" day, community gardens are sprouting up allowing people of all ages and from all walks of life to go green together. Look up Tree People, Heal The Bay or on a more local level, hit the web and research green groups you can join in your area.