Why we started HotonEarth

HotonEarth was started by us, Tom and Lisa, due to a genuine concern about the future of our environment and the damage that is currently being done to it. With so much in the media about global warming and climate change, it's really brought it home to many people how the problem is quickly spiralling out of control, yet governments and companies seem incredibly slow to react. What is more worrying is the development of new economies such as China and India whose proposed plans and the ensuing potential for environmental damage is so vast it makes what we do here in the UK seem rather pointless.

Coupled with this climate of growing concern for our environment is the huge cultural revolution of the Internet. With it's vast global reach the numbers of people browsing and shopping online has exploded over the past couple of years. As a result there has been a huge shift in the way companies try to reach their customers. Advertising budgets that were previously being spent on newspaper, magazine and television advertising are now being used online.

As we both have experience with building websites, and are familiar with online marketing, we thought the creation of HotonEarth was the best way for us to 'do our bit' and raise awareness of environmental issues.

HotonEarth is an attempt to capitalise on the unique situation of online marketing. By asking people to shop via our site we are then able to redirect a large amount of the advertising budgets given to us from a wide variety of companies and put it towards supporting projects to help combat climate change.

HotonEarth is much more than a shopping directory though - and even more than just a resource of environmental information and articles. We want you - everyone - to join our site and get involved in debates about global warming, tell us how you're changing your life in some way to be more 'green', share your tips and ideas... just generally get involved!

And if there's anything you think missing from the site then please just drop us a line - we're very open to feedback and want to develop the site to suit our visitors as much as possible.

Uur site

We firmly believe in what we are doing, and feel it is a positive attempt to raise money for the environment, but there are many people who criticise the whole carbon offsetting idea.

Carbon offsetting is a con, it's far better to reduce your emissions and be carbon zero!

To be honest we have to agree with this one in principle, however it's simply not possible to live AND be carbon zero. Reducing emissions is vitally important, and we are very keen to promote the many ways people can make small changes in their daily behaviour to help reduce their carbon footprint. We are also realists, we can't expect the whole world to suddenly give up television, mobile phones, computers, their cars or holidays abroad. So rather than fight a loosing battle we've made it possible for them help in a small way while getting on with their daily lives.

Carbon offsetting is just a scapegoat for people to 'buy' their way out of the problem they're causing.

Yes, in many ways it is. That is why we actively encourage throughout the site, ways in which people can cut their carbon emissions and lead a greener lifestyle. However, as stated above, no one can be 'carbon zero' - and so schemes that help reduce the amount of carbon emitted in the future, such as developing alternative energy sources - should be supported - both by raising awareness of them and by helping them continue to evolve, via monetary contributions.

How can you claim to be helping the environment when you are supporting the very organisations who are doing so much damage to it?

We believe that in today's consumer society, these companies are going to prosper regardless. Therefore HotonEarth has a somewhat 'if you can't beat them, join them' attitude. These companies have online marketing budgets - here is an opportunity to put this money to good use.

But you're just helping these companies 'Green Wash'!

We are keen to urge that we are not trying to paint these companies as saints - hence the aspect of the site that allows you to comment on their 'green intentions'. We want users of HotonEarth to understand that we are an independent organisation, taking advantage of these companies' marketing strategies to try to make ammends for the the drastic climate problems brought about by, amongst other things, large organisations such as these.

Is this website just another pointless hub of links?

No, it isn't. For people new to the topic of Global Warming and climate change it provides many valuable articles to educate and inform. The news section keeps our 'finger on the pulse' and the rating of each shop allows interactivity and an interesting sharing of views and information. Overridingly though, the point of HotonEarth is to support environmentally aware projects - and whilst part of promoting any website involves exchanging links with like minded websites, this is merely a means to an end.

You're being very hypocritical by selling useless consumer goods.

We believe people come to HotonEarth to purchase something they intend to buy anyway. In which case, it is better to buy it through us than from a retailer making no environmental contribution. We obviously do want to inform our visitors of any particular promotions being run by the stores on our site, to give them the best deal for what they are shopping for - but do so with the company's eco policy in mind.

How much do you actually know about climate change?

Not as much as some people - but a great deal of reading and research, as well as forum discussion, combined with a genuine interest and concern has gone into this site.

Offsetting projects that generate electricity from renewable sources in developing countries are generating electricity which otherwise would not have been generated and so again the projects are not really offsetting anything.

This is true, however as the economies of these developing countries catch up to ours, by providing them with an alternative to the carbon burning route we took 100 years ago, we are possibly saving our environment from the future damage of lots more industrial revolutions. There are also many cases, such as the use of sun ovens, where renewable energy resources, such as cooking under the suns rays, can radically help to protect local woodland from being burnt for fuel. Thus protecting the local environment from destruction, and helping to maintain the natural wildlife balance in the region.

If you would like to get in touch with us, or share your thoughts about the site we'd love to hear from you. We firmly believe in listening to everyones opinions.