Living a more earth-friendly lifestyle can take a lot of time and research. I know not everyone has a couple of hours in their day and may want some quick easy references. Thank goodness for the digital age and smartphones because the apps they have about green lifestyles makes it so much easier to do.
With hundreds of green living apps out there, which ones are the best? No worries, I’m going to share a couple of my favorites with you.
iRecycle for Android and iPhone (Free)
Developed by Earth 911, this app uses your GPS capabilities to find places near you to recycle almost anything you can think of. Check this app before you throw anything in the trash. You’d be surprised what you can recycle.
GoodGuide for Android and iPhone (Free)
This year I’m trying to purchase more eco-friendly products, but I don’t always have time to do all the research before I go to the store. That’s where GoodGuide comes in. Simply scan the barcode of an item you’d like to purchase and it provides ratings for hundreds of items on their social, health and environmental impact, as well as a general overall rating.
Light Bulb Finder for Android and iPhone (Free)
Start by selecting the type of fixture, the current type of bulb in it, the wattage of the current bulb, hours per day it’s used, number of bulbs you plan to replace, your zip code. After you tap “Find Bulb,” Light Bulb Finder helps you find the right energy efficient bulb, the approximate reduction of CO2 emissions and the potential energy savings you might get each year. Replacing the bulbs on my ceiling fan will save me about $10 a year and the ROI for purchasing the bulbs is less than a year.
National Green Pages for Android and iPhone (Free)
One goal I have this year is to start supporting more businesses that incorporate sustainable practices. The problem is generally, most businesses don’t have a huge sign on them saying that they do this. That’s where National Green Pages comes in. They have a directory that can point you to the nearest green businesses. Listings vary on your location, and there weren’t a whole lot of listings in the Detroit area. However, I anticipate the directory to grow over time.
EnergySaver for Android and iPhone ($2.99)
Okay, it’s not a freebie, but for about $3 you can get a pretty good handle on where you consume the most energy. Simply input you’re the energy usage from your bills, appliances and energy rates. EnergySaver outputs graphs and data to show you where you spend the most money on your utilities so you can start saving energy and money today.
The Environmental Protection Agency shares even more green apps on their website. Plus, they even have a page where you can suggest ideas for future apps. Other readers can even see your idea and vote on whether they like it or not to help developers create more apps around user needs.
Green apps make it easy to learn how to live a more earth-friendly lifestyle – especially if you don’t have hours to spare doing research.
Do you have a favorite app that didn’t make the list? Share yours with other Zing readers below!
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