FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions (and answers) about Green.
1. What is Green?
Green is a Firefox browser extension that lets you fight global warming while you browse the web.
2. How does Green work?
You install Green in your web browser. As you browse the web, Green collects revenue from the usual ads you see on webpages. Inferknow uses the revenue to finance environmental projects.
3. How much does it cost?
Green is absolutely free.
4. How hard is Green to install and use?
It's easy! Once you have Firefox, it takes about 10 seconds to download and install the Green extension. You will see a little green leaf in the lower right hand corner of your browser's status bar. When you hover over the green leaf, you will see the number of pounds of CO2 you have offset so far. That's it!
5. Will Green slow down my machine?
No. In fact, in most cases it will speed it up. That is because we generally show fewer ads than you would normally see without Green installed.
6. Should I change the way I browse the web with Green installed?
No. Please browse normally. Green works regardless of the number of webpages you visit or the number of ads you see and/or click.
7. How much CO2 does Green offset?
Green offsets up to 650 lbs per year, depending on how much you use your computer. Our extensive testing indicates that is 150-400% of your computer's carbon footprint, depending on what kind of computer you have. You can think of Green as a "carbon eraser" because it usually offsets more than your computer's carbon footprint.
8. How big is my computer's carbon footprint?
Your computer's carbon footprint is equal to the amount of CO2 that is emitted while producing the electricity it consumes. The average desktop computer has a carbon footprint of about 400 lbs per year, and the average laptop has a carbon footprint of about 150 lbs per year.
9. I have a laptop and/or I get my electricity from sustainable sources. Why should I install Green?
Any excess CO2 you offset while browsing with Green will go toward offsetting less efficient users.
10. How does Inferknow fund clean energy sources like wind and solar, and environmental projects like reforestation?
Advertisers pay Inferknow to display ads on the webpages you visit with Green. Green replaces the ads that it finds on the webpages you visit with the ads from our advertisers. We use the ad revenue to purchase and retire carbon credits from suppliers like CarbonFund. Carbon credits are a standard mechanism for funding environmental projects.
11. Why do you replace the ads on the webpages I visit with other ads?
This is how we help you fight global warming. The money we collect from the ads we show is used to fund environmental projects.
12. Does Green force me to see more ads than I see today?
No. In fact when you install Green, you will see fewer ads overall than you do today.
13. What about the websites I visit? Am I stealing from them by replacing their ads?
No, you are not stealing. We encourage website publishers to join our affiliate program. When they join, we pay them a portion of the ad revenue we collect. Website owners can contact us to find out more.
14. Does Inferknow collect data from my computer?
Yes. We collect information about the webpages you visit. We use the information to customize the ads you see, and to calculate how much CO2 you have offset. None of the information we collect is personally identifiable. Please see our privacy policy for more information.
15. Does Inferknow release my data to third parties?
No. We never release personally-identifiable data of any kind to anyone under any circumstances. We may share some
non-personally-identifiable data in limited circumstances with third parties, for instance to help us customize
the ads you see. Please see our privacy policy for more information.
16. Will Green work on my Mac? on Windows? on Linux?
Yes. Green works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. The only requirement is Firefox 2+, which you can get from Mozilla.
17. Is there a version of Green for IE?
No. Let us know if you are interested in one.
18. What is Inferknow's mission?
Our mission is to help people control the information they consume and the information that represents them. Green is a key part of that mission. It empowers you to take control of Internet advertising and put it to work to make the world a better place.
19. Why should people be able to control the information they consume, and in particular ads?
Advertising is a process of converting user attention into money. We believe users have a fundamental right to determine what happens with the revenue derived from their attention. With Green, people choose to exert control over the ads they consume by directing revenue they are responsible for generating toward environmental projects. We believe Green will improve advertising for everyone -- users, publishers, and advertisers.
