Summary

The Environmental Defense Fund, a nonprofit that partners with businesses, governments, and communities to find practical environmental solutions, was searching for a way to gather several hundred sources of public data into a nation-wide database. They created Scorecard.org, which aggregates this information in order to create a nation-wide tool for assessing environmental risk from pollution and toxic chemicals.

Business Challenge

The Environmental Defense Fund, a nonprofit that partners with businesses, governments, and communities to find practical environmental solutions, was searching for a way to gather several hundred sources of public data into a nation-wide database.

Approach Taken

The Environmental Defense Fund created Scorecard.org, which facilitates the desired data aggregation for assessing environmental risk from pollution and toxic chemicals. The site also provides information on contacting elected representatives about pollution hazards and how to encourage communities to reduce pollution risk. Visitors to the site can type in their zip code and get instant access to a wealth of information about pollution sources in their region.

Results Achieved (metrics)

Grassroots organizations, educators and academics, media organizations, government officials, and health and safety practitioners all use Scorecard.org for slightly different purposes, yet all have contributed to the spread of valuable information on how to diminish pollution and help the environment.

Lessons Learned

Providing both general information and information specific to a visitor's region has helped the site reach a broad audience, including those who have a professional interest in the environment, and those who seek to be environmentally conscience in their own neighborhoods.