Saving money, energy and the planet while leading more healthier and happier lives could not be more interrelated. But did you know that your smartphone can help make doing all of the above fun, easy and effective.
Here are a few apps that can help you save money, energy and live a healthier happier life.
1) greenMeter: Fuel savings on the road.
greenMeter is an app you can download on your iPhone and position it as a GPS device. It is common knowledge that smoother driving with gradual acceleration, breaking and maintaining lower speeds can help you save money on gas and lower your footprint. greenMeter’s sensors computes your vehicle’s power and fuel usage characteristics and evaluates your driving to increase efficiency, reduce fuel consumption in real-time, while driving.
App for iOS
2) JouleBug: Compete with friends on sustainability and save money
JouleBug is a free iPhone app that helps you cut out energy waste and save more than $200 a year. JouleBug was designed to encourage sustainable living through gaming and social interaction making it fun and simple! You are awarded points for sustainable actions and can compete with your friends and communities through a points system and a leader-board. With this app you can also connect to your usage data through your utility company and see the impact of behavioral changes on your electric bill.
App for iOS (Android app coming soon)
3) SideCar: Share your ride, save money, and gas.
SideCar is a real-time ride-matching app for users in San Francisco, that instantly connects people who need rides with local drivers who are available and willing to give rides around town. It is cost-effective, eco-conscious, reliable and fun! With Sidecar, payment is voluntary and billed to your credit card, you have information on the driver, who undergo a background check and have insurance. If you are not in San Francisco, there are other ride sharing apps like Zimride, Avego, Carticipate or Reward Ride. Carpooling to work could be a no-brainer to many, but with these apps sharing a ride long distance may become popular too.
In France/Paris? Autolib may be for you! In the UK? Carpooling UK can get you a ride!
App for iOS or Android
4) airbnb: Find a place to stay, for cheap
airbnb is a worldwide community for people to find accommodations – worldwide! airbnb is a trusted community marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodations around the world – online or from a mobile phone. If you are a renter, you can get a room for less, stay with locals and even find an exotic boutique rental. If you are listing your space, this is a great way to earn a buck. airbnb offers a variety of tools where both parties feel secure and safe with the deal. Join thousands of satisfied travelers around the world who choose airbnb when they travel.
App for iOS or Android
5) GoodGuide: Evaluate products for your health and environmental safety
Want an easy to use eco-product guide for purchases, but are confused with the thousands of products that all promise to be the greenest in the market. You are not alone, but GoodGuide is here with a product rating system that is clear and easy to understand. For each product you can see a score that tell you how it performs for your health, environment and society. You can see ratings for thousands of consumer products from personal care products, appliances and even cars. With GoodGuide quickly scan a bar code to evaluate a product at home or at a store.
App for iOS or Android
6) Green Shine: Eco-friendly and cheap cleaning alternatives for your home
Are you overwhelmed by the number of cleaners you are told you need to keep you home clean and germ-free? There is freedom in sight from all those bottles and pumps. This application helps you to replace almost the full range of commercial cleaners with gentle, environmentally friendly, healthier and safer homemade alternatives. Green Shine contains environmentally friendly solutions for 128 everyday housekeeping tasks from simple window cleaning to stain removal.
App for iOS
7) iViro: Energy analysis for your home
Perform your own quick or detailed energy analysis with no prior technical experience. Get heating, cooling, lighting, hot water and appliance energy consumption break downs with yearly cost estimates and CO2 emission estimates. Upgrade and retrofit suggestions include yearly savings, economic projections, payback period and information about various energy-saving alternatives.
App for iOS
8) Locavore: Eat Fresh and local
One cannot say enough good things about eating local and in-season produce. By eating local, you can ensure you are eating the freshest possible food and lowering your energy and environmental footprint from shipping food hundreds of miles. By eating in-season, you are choosing the best food that are naturally suited for that time of the year, supporting better well-being by warding off common health ailments. Locavore is the easiest way to find local, in-season food, find nearby farmers’ markets & farms that sell the products you love. You can also discover seasonal recipes.
App for iOS or Android
Do you have a favorite green app we missed? Share them in the comments