Apps for Sustainable Living

CEBU, Philippines — Many people respond to news about climate change and global warming by trying to live greener. Yes, doing one’s share about the melting ice caps, the droughts and trash piling up worldwide means living with zero-waste.

The idea of sustainable living was more difficult when it was just emerging. Not many resources were available to learn about how it can be practiced. Fortunately, information has become so readily available today, due to technology. Also, free apps for helping one to live sustainably can now be easily downloaded. 

For sustainable transport. Transport is one of the many things that leave carbon dioxide emissions and by cycling, walking or taking public transport one can help reduce the emissions. Mobile apps are now available to help a person contribute to efforts to protect the environment.

One such app calculates one’s car usage and suggests alternative methods of transport that are  sustainable. Recoins, a digital currency that can be ‘purchased’, can be used to buy carbon dioxide certificates that help fund projects for environmental protection. These projects are intended to compensate for the carbon emission produced by one’s vehicle.

For daily reminders. The course of habit makes one do things without considering the long-term consequences. The use of plastics, for example, gives momentary convenience but have wide-ranging environmental effects in the long run. An app called Rippl reminds and locks tips into one’s mobile phone and pops up daily to help keep one on track in doing sustainable practices. The app was designed by environmental scientists to provide tips and recommendations based on scientific data.

For smarter choices in shopping. An app called GoodGuide makes shopping choices more sustainable. It rates products based on the health, safety and environment implications, so shoppers would be guided accordingly, helping them purchase safe, green, healthy and ethical products. The app has a barcode scanner to easily extract information about the products before purchase.

For those who lack time. An app called #Climate is designed primarily for people who are too busy to keep up with news on sustainability or those who work for long hours. It links organizations like Greenpeace for the latest news on sustainability or climate change.

These apps are a few proofs that there is technology to assist people in doing their share for the environment and the planet itself. They make it easier to develop ecologically sustainable habits. (FREEMAN)