❓FAQs

Answers to a few frequently asked questions.

Why should my team or company use Brightest?

We've designed Brightest to be a modern, integrated, comprehensive, and sustainable platform for building and engaging your organization and stakeholders around themes like ESG, sustainability, climate action, and social impact work. We'll talk about each one of these value themes.

Modern. We still have plenty of work to do to keep making Brightest better, but our commitment to you is to continuously develop, design, and improve our software with state state-of-the-art web and AI technology to be clear, configurable, easy to learn, and pleasant to use. A lot of our partners and friends tell us one of the reason they switched to using us was because they find our design approach friendlier and easier to work with. We also love listening to and hearing from customers and partners, so feel free to get in touch if you'd like to request a new feature.

Integrated and Comprehensive. One of the reasons we started Brightest is because we got frustrated trying to do what Brightest does with lots of separate apps, tools, spreadsheets, and browser tabs that don't necessarily fit well together, and aren't collaborative or audit and assurance-friendly.

For example, imagine you have (a) a carbon accounting system, (b) a supply chain management tool, (c) a GRC system, (d) HR software and (e) other IT tools like an accounting system or ERP, and you're trying to organize and pull all of that data together to create ESG and sustainability reporting. It's hard, right?

Our goal is to help organizations focus more on sustainable impact, and less on ESG and sustainability data management. With Brightest, all ESG and sustainability activity, engagement, communication, measurement, and reporting is in one place, and everything fits together. When it doesn't, we also support integrations too, and are always looking to make the system better.

Sustainable. We're an environmentally-responsible, net zero emissions organization and certified B Corporation. We run Brightest on servers and data centers powered by 98% renewable energy, and offset the balance of carbon (CO2) footprint through our "1 Action = 1 🌳" tree planting program and other high-quality offset purchases. When you use Brightest, not only are you backing a modern, forward-thinking product, you're also helping us conserve native habitats, fight climate change, and give back with every positive action your employees and community members complete.

How do I request new features?

We want to make Brightest a platform that makes your work easier and life better. If we're not living up to that, we want to hear from you. Your voice is your vote, and we listen to every request we get to make sure we're building the right stuff.

To submit a feature request or idea, contact your Brightest Client Success lead, send us a message, or tweet at @Brightest_Inc with your idea 💡

I found a bug - what should I do?

First off, thanks for looking out for us, and sorry for any inconvenience.

If you encounter an error with page content not loading correctly in Brightest, our first recommendation is to perform a browser refresh. Sometimes, when our software is updated but your browser is caching a previous version, this can cause issues. This can be resolved by following these steps to clear your web browser cache.

If clearing your cache doesn't resolve the issue, you see a message indicating a "server error", or you think you've found a different type of error or bug in Brightest, send us an email to [e-mail], we'll open a ticket, and alert our engineering team so they can investigate further. You can also check on the general status and uptime of Brightest by visiting https://status.brightest.io

When you're reporting an error, please provide the following info if possible:

1. What version(s) of the app (desktop/web/mobile) are you seeing the error happen? If desktop, is it a Mac or Windows computer? What browser are you using (Chrome, Firefox, Safari)? If mobile, Android or iOS?

1. The URL of the Brightest page where the error's occurring, if applicable.

1. Any additional details about what you're trying to do, where in the product the error occurs, and any specific steps we can use to verify or attempt to re-create the issue

1. Screenshots, GIFs, and/or videos are also very helpful.

And thanks again for staying alert and helping us improve.

How do I change my password?

You can reset or change your password here. Make sure you have a valid email in your user profile first (at the moment we can only reset passwords via email if you registered with your phone number).

How do I change the time and date format in my account?

1. Navigate to your profile settings by click on your user name in the top right corner of your screen and select "Settings"

2. Use the drop-down menu in the "Preferred Date Format" Setting and select one of the following options:

• MM/DD/YYYY, hh:mm:ss A (12-hour clock format)

• DD/MM/YYYY, HH:mm:ss

• YYYY/MM/DD, HH:mm:ss

• YYYY-MM-DD, HH:mm:ss

1. Scroll to the bottom of the Settings Page and select "Save changes"

Does Brightest support custom branding?

Yes. Custom branding is currently a premium feature. If you're on our free plan, you'll need to upgrade (or message us).

Does Brightest support custom domains?

Yes. Custom domains for your organization's action hub is currently a premium, enterprise feature. Please message us to discuss further.

Does Brightest have an API?

Yes, we have a RESTful API: https://api.brightest.io

For platform stability and data security, Brightest API access is currently provisioned by request for clients on an active, paid Brightest plan. If you're a current Brightest client or partner who needs to work with our API, please message us.

For some integrations, you can use also use Zapier to connect Brightest to other software tools without writing any code. To learn more or find your account's Zapier key, visit your account's integration page.

I exported data and I received the email stating that my export file was ready. How do I retrieve my export file?

You can find your exports by:

1. Navigate to the Settings Module in Brightest

2. Click on the green "View Exports" button

Here you will find a list of your exported files, information about who requested the export, and a copy of the export file for download.

Exports will be available in your export list for 72 hours.

How do I represent renewable energy in an asset?

There are a few different options for representing renewable energy, depending on its use and your reporting needs. See below for guides on how to represent:

• Energy Attribute Certificates

• Onsite Renewable Energy Consumption

• Tracking Onsite Renewable Energy Generation (optional)

Energy Attribute Certificates (RECs, GOs, etc.)

If you have a clean energy contract for one of your assets, follow the steps below. This describes to how set up clean power usage within your asset:

1. In the Sustainability Module:

   1. Click "Add Asset" to create a new asset (or use the CSV importer template). Or, if the asset already exists, click on the name of the asset to view and edit the asset creation form.

   2. Once in the asset creation form, fill in out the necessary information about your asset and update the following fields as needed:

      1. Clean Power Field: Enter percentage of renewable energy you are using (ie. "100")

      2. Emissions Categories: Use the drop-down menu to select the necessary emissions categories for which clean power is used (ex. Electricity)

      3. Optional: You can select a start and end date for the clean power, if needed.

   3. Click "Create" or "Update."

   

   Clean power settings in the Asset Creation Form

2. Now, when you enter your electricity asset footprint data, Brightest will calculate "0" market-based electricity emissions for this asset. Brightest will still calculate location-based emissions based on the address of the asset.

   1. If you do not want location-based electricity emissions calculated for the asset:

      1. Create a "100% Renewable Energy" emissions factor in your Settings > Emissions factor library. Visit this page for more information on creating custom emissions factors.
      2. Navigate back your asset's footprint page and set the custom emissions factor in the "Electricity" tab in the "Electricity Emissions Factor" field (this represents location-based emissions).

      3. Click "Update and Save Data". Now your location-based emissions will be calculated using your custom 100% Renewable Energy emissions factor.

      

      Location- and Market-Based electricity emissions factor settings in the asset footprint pages

Onsite Renewable Energy Consumption

The guide below walks you through the steps for representing renewable energy consumption from onsite renewables. See next section for how to track renewable energy generation from your renewables (optional).

In the Sustainability Module:

1. Click "Add Asset" to create a new asset (or use the CSV importer template). Or, if the asset already exists, click on the name of the asset to view and edit the asset creation form.

2. Once in the asset creation form, fill in out the necessary information about your asset and update the following fields as needed:

   1. Clean Power Field: Enter percentage of renewable energy you are using (ie. "100")

   2. Emissions Categories: Use the drop-down menu to select the necessary emissions categories for which clean power is used (ex. Electricity)

   3. Optional: You can select a start and end date for the clean power, if needed.

3. Click "Create" or "Update."

   

   Clean power settings in the Asset Creation Form

1. Now, when you enter your electricity asset footprint data, Brightest will calculate "0" market-based electricity emissions for this asset. Brightest will still calculate location-based emissions based on the address of the asset.

   1. If you do not want location-based electricity emissions calculated for the asset:

      1. Create a "100% Renewable Energy" emissions factor in your Settings > Emissions factor library. Visit this page for more information on creating custom emissions factors.
      2. Navigate back your asset's footprint page and set the custom emissions factor in the "Electricity" tab in the "Electricity Emissions Factor" field (this represents location-based emissions).

      3. Click "Update and Save Data". Now your location-based emissions will be calculated using your custom 100% Renewable Energy emissions factor.

      

Note: Other Scope 3 emission categories may also be relevant to your renewable energy equipment — such as purchased goods and services, transportation, and distribution. Additionally, if your energy contract includes net metering, it may introduce further complexities in carbon accounting.

Tracking Onsite Renewable Energy Generation (optional)

You have the option to track the amount of energy produced by your onsite renewables. To do this follow the steps below:

1. In the Sustainability Module:

   1. Click "Add Asset" to create a new asset (or use the CSV importer template).

      1. This asset is where you will enter the amount of renewable energy that your onsite renewable is generating. You should continue to enter any grid energy consumption in your office or site asset.

2. Once in the asset creation form:

   1. In the Asset Type Field: Select "Energy," "Equipment," or one of the RE Energy Type assets

   2. Uncheck the "Utilities Purchased" box

   3. Uncheck the "Heating Purchased" box

   4. Enter "100" in the Clean Power field

   5. Use the drop-down menu to select the necessary Emissions Categories Where Clean Power Is Used.

   6. Optional: You can select a start and end date for the clean power, if needed.

   7. Click "Create" or "Update."

   

   Clean power settings in the Asset Creation Form

3. Now, when you enter your electricity asset footprint data, Brightest will calculate "0" market-based electricity emissions for this asset. Brightest will still calculate location-based emissions based on the address of the asset. The emissions will be allocated to Scope 1 - Electricity Generation.

   1. If you do not want Scope 1 location-based electricity emissions calculated for the renewable energy asset:

      1. Create a "100% Renewable Energy" emissions factor in your emissions factor library. Visit this page for more information on creating custom emissions factors.
      2. Set the custom emissions factor in the necessary asset footprint's "Electricity" tab in the "Electricity Emissions Factor" field (location-based emissions).

      

Still need help? That's what we're here for. Message us and we're on it.