What is SustainLane?
SustainLane.com is an online community where you can connect with local people interested in living healthy lives on a green planet. Our community members post and discuss local green news, events, tips, information, coupons and jobs. They also find and write user-reviews on more than 30,000 green products and local businesses across the country. Check out our latest community posts and discussions, search for local, green business reviews, and if you like what you see, sign up for a free user account.
Is SustainLane free?
Yes! Aside from some advertising features, the site is yours to use for free. (If you are interested in advertising, click here.)
Why use SustainLane?
In addition to connecting with like-minded folks, you can:
Who Uses SustainLane?
With growing concern about our own health and about the health of the planet – and as an increasing number of cities and towns across the U.S. enact policies in support of healthier, greener communities – everyone needs SustainLane. But SustainLane’s primary users include:
How do I start?
Complete the quick signup process, then create a profile and add a photo. Click “Post to SustainLane” or “Write a Review” to start sharing your tips, thoughts, and ideas and voicing your opinions.
What should I review on SustainLane?
Any eco-friendly business, service or product – as well as those that are marketed as earth-friendly – may be reviewed on SustainLane. This includes restaurants, markets, architects, holistic practitioners, farmers markets, toys, kitchenware, garden care products and businesses and more, and you may review both retailers and manufacturers.
What makes for a great review?
SustainLane reviews are enlightening and informative thanks to both active community members and passersby who take the time to share their thoughts and experiences they’ve had with local green businesses and products.
The most useful reviews share your personal experience with a business or product and offer an honest critique of it.
You can also go back and edit your review if you have a new or different experience with a business or product.
If I had a bad experience, can I write a negative review?
Of course. We’re looking for honest accounts of your personal experiences, both good and bad. You can say whatever you want, though you should keep in mind that while your opinions are generally protected, posting false and/or libelous information could have legal ramifications.
What should I write on SustainLane?
You can write about anything you like related to healthy living and a healthy planet. SustainLane community members share and discuss news, tips, and information about all things green. Community members have recently written about eco-friendly computer fonts, how to clean mold from your shower, the way organic food is packaged, how to lower your energy bills, ingredients to ban from your cosmetic cupboard and many more topics.
What makes for a great blog post?
The best posts to SustainLane are both informative and useful – they may contain news, tips, and information as well as personal experiences with green living. It’s the “personal” part that makes your post most engaging. It’s hard to say what topics will strike readers most, but recent posts that generated a lot of traffic were about how to save money on electricity in the summer months, a bamboo bicycle, homemade cleaners, and how to stand out as a green job candidate.
Who can see me, my reviews, and my posts on SustainLane?
SustainLane visitors can see your first name, last initial or last name (depending on what you choose when you sign up), your reviews, posts, and profile. Only registered SustainLane users may comment on your reviews and posts or send you messages.
How can I let my friends know what I’m doing?
There are a couple ways to let your friends know what you’re up to on SustainLane:
Does SustainLane ever remove reviews or posts?
We do sometimes, but it is very rare. We remove reviews and posts that are advertisements or that are otherwise inappropriate for the site.
How do I change my basic account information?
To edit your profile or to change your account information log in and click on the "My Profile" link that appears at the top of any page. Once on your profile page, click on the pencil icon to edit your profile. Click on “Account Details” to change account information.
How do I change my email address?
Your email address and password are found under "Account Details," a link that appears in the upper right corner of your profile page. Once here, click “Change my email address” in order to change the email address associated with your SustainLane account.
How does my name appear to other users?
By default, SustainLane visitors can see your first name and last initial. If you would like to show your full name, you can choose to do so in “Account Details” on your profile page. For more information about your personal information, please see our privacy policy by clicking on the “Privacy Policy” link located at the bottom of any page.
Can I post on SustainLane under multiple accounts?
No. It's not ok for you to write reviews and posts from multiple accounts. We delete multiple accounts when we see them.
How do I remove a friend?
On your profile page, click on the “Friends” tab. Then click on “See all friends” (upper right). To remove a friend, click the “delete” button that appears below his or her photo.
How do I invite friends?
To invite friends, click on the “Tell a Friend” link at the top of any page. (You can also click the “Invite Friends” link on your profile page). You can enter the email addresses of all the people you’d like to invite to join you on SustainLane. Or you can enter your email address and password, and we’ll find their addresses for you.
Use our invitation message as it is, or feel free to personalize it. When you’re ready, click “Invite.”
The email invitation includes a link that brings your friends to SustainLane. If they accept your invitation, they'll automatically appear in your network and you’ll be able to easily track their activity in your friend feed.
What does SustainLane do with my personal information?
We will never, ever sell your personal information. We take privacy very seriously and work hard to make sure no spam gets through to our site or our users. Please see our privacy policy by clicking on the “Privacy Policy” link located at the bottom of any page.
If you receive spam-like messages from another SustainLane member, or if you receive a message that is harassing, abusive, or contains a violation of our Terms of Service, please let us know, and we will be in touch with you within 24 hours.
Have a question we didn’t answer? Send it to us here.
