about the DoActions

1. How we chose the DoActions

We came up with a long list of possible DoActions in our brainstorming sessions, but we’ve chosen a small selection for the launch of our site. We plan to introduce more over time, with your help.

We wanted to build a selection that would appeal to a broad range of people, whether they own a palace or live in student digs; drive a Porsche or are welded to their bike; are up for a challenge or just want to make a quick one-off contribution.

We were also careful to make sure they really did have all-round environmental benefits, as well as helping boost the sponsor’s finances and health if possible.

2. Suggest a DoAction;

If you’re itching to see your own idea for a DoAction up there we’d love to hear it, so please send it this way. Use our simple feedback form to share your ideas.

3. How we calculated the CO₂ savings

After a few headaches, hours of sifting through the Energy Saving Trust’s carbon databases, many complex excel sheets and long discussions with a few energy geeks, we came up with a pleasantly functional carbon savings calculator.

The CO₂ data given is meant to be an indication of your sponsorship contribution, it’s not designed to be an all-encompassing carbon footprint tool. If you want one of those, Act on CO₂ might be a better option.

We used national averages where appropriate and made a few other reasonable assumptions to help make the sponsoring process as straightforward as possible. Some of those are:

• People do the DoActions over the full two months.
• When single sponsorship actions have a long-term impact, their savings are calculated for the most appropriate period (e.g. three years’ worth of savings from Soak in the Sun and Sun Power are counted).
• An emission factor of 0.544Kg CO₂ per kWh of grid electricity (Defra conversion factors 2009) was used.
• A fuel price conversion factor of 0.13 £/kWh of electricity (Act on CO2 July 2009) was used.
• The average household has 2.34 occupants.

4. It’s about more than just CO₂

CO₂ is the currency of The DoNation, not the soul.

We believe in a lot more than just carbon, and are strong advocates of a more holistic view of sustainability.  Hopefully that’s made clear through the site.

But as yet there’s no broad measurement that encompasses the impacts of carbon, biodiversity, water, health, social wellbeing and resource depletion. If only I could invent one, I’d be a Nobel laureate.

For now, Kg CO₂ will have to do.

5. What about the products you recommend?

We want to make it as easy as possible for sponsors to complete their pledge so we’ve done the research for them and, where appropriate, recommended some good, reliable and truly green products that can help them out. 

For each successful referral made we receive a small commission, which we feed back into developing and improving The DoNation. This income is very important to us as we live in the real world and need money to run the business, but as a social enterprise you can be reassured that the money will be directly spent on achieving our social and environmental mission.

We have developed a clear affiliate selection policy to enable us to maintain our values and promote the best products possible. We are also developing other revenue streams so we are not wholly dependent on affiliate income, and can afford to be more selective with our partnerships.

If you have any queries, concerns, or feedback on any of our affiliates, please drop us a line.