Go Green: 8 Free Apps for a More Eco-Friendly Lifestyle
It’s pretty self-evident by now that going green has its advantages. Of course, it’s about conserving energy and preserving the environment. But in a lot of ways, it’s also about saving you a ton of money.
You waste less energy and thus save money on heating, gas, and electricity. It also helps the planet when you go green.
For those willing to begin or continue their journey to sustainability and balance, we’ve put together a list of apps that will help you go green and adopt a healthier and more mindful lifestyle.
1. #Climate: For Participating
Whether you believe in climate change or not, you’ll find useful information on #Climate. This app is all about taking small steps towards a greater good.
#Climate is a non-profit created by a tech community. Its main purpose is to help you find green actions that you can take to help the environment. You can focus your profile on the topics you’re interested in and passionate about. Then, when you log into the app, you’ll see suggested actions for you according to your interests.
The next step is choosing an action you’d like to take part in. After completing one of those, you get to share it with your friends on social media. There’s also an option to track the action’s success and see how many people you’ve inspired to join in.
Download: #Climate for iOS (Free)
2. JouleBug: For Forming Green Habits
JouleBug is an app that helps you form green habits by giving you awards for doing good. The app will encourage you to be more sustainable by awarding various badges and points every step of the way. So you’ll get points for actions like biking to work instead of driving, or bringing a reusable shopping bag to a store.
Plus, JouleBug is an app that helps you save money. You can sync it up to your utility bills and see how much money you’re saving each month by going green. You can also ask your friends to join the app to add an element of a friendly competition. Besides, changing your lifestyle is always more fun when you’re doing it together with someone else.
Download: JouleBug for iOS | Android (Free)
3. threadUP: For Decluttering and Recycling
Our next pick is thredUP, a fashion resale shop with thousands of brands. Why is the app on this list? Because it helps with decluttering and recycling used clothes.
ThredUP is basically an online thrift shop. Except you don’t have to spend hours shopping and searching through hundreds of items for the perfect piece. You can browse all you want without leaving home. Browse through the items on the app, or choose one of the special surprise boxes if you’re feeling adventurous.
And the best part? You can send the company the clothes you don’t wear anymore and receive store credit or cash in exchange.
Download: thredUP for iOS | Android (Free)
4-5. AYA Carpooling and BlaBlaCar: For Ridesharing
One great step to going green is sharing car rides. Not only will this save you a ton of money, but it also helps reduce CO2 emissions and their impact on the environment.
A great option for Android users in the US is AYA Carpooling. The app offers low-cost shared rides from city to city by connecting drivers with people who are traveling the same way.
What AYA does differently is introducing a concept of so-called social carpooling. This means that you can join different groups on the app, get to know the people better, and choose your carpooling partners based on something more than just the model of their vehicle and the price of the ride.
The company’s vision is to turn carpooling into an alternative means of transportation. That has potential to solve a lot of issues like pollution, traffic congestion on roads, and lack of parking space.
While it’s not available in the US, BlaBlaCar is worth a look for those in Europe and elsewhere around the world. Even though these app claims their systems are very secure, don’t forget about basic safety when ridesharing.
Download: AYA Carpooling for Android (Free)
Download: BlaBlaCar for iOS | Android (Free)
6. HowGood: For Better Grocery Shopping
It’s no secret that what goes into the groceries you buy affects not only your health, but the environment as well.
With HowGood, you can scan a product’s barcode or search for it on the app to find the product info. In a simple way, the app tells you how good something is both for your health and the environment. The app has over a hundred thousand products already rated.
Scores are based on a combination of factors, such as community impact, growing practices, and food processing. Using this app is a good way to become (and stay) informed about what you eat and how it affects the world around you.
Download: HowGood for iOS | Android (Free)
7. PaperKarma: For Reducing Paper Waste
Junk mail is annoying in any form. But when it comes by way of useless magazines, leaflets, and catalogs, it’s also bad for the environment. But before you decide to toss those into a trash bin, scan them with PaperKarma.
The app’s mission is to reduce paper waste by getting rid of junk mail. Next time you receive unwanted mail, take a photo of it. Make sure it includes your name, address, and the sender’s details. That’s all you have to do to unsubscribe from offending junk mail.
PaperKarma takes care of the rest on your behalf. You can get started with the app for free, but after a while, you have to switch to a subscription. After all, the process is not automatic—someone actually has to do this for you.
Download: PaperKarma for iOS | Android (Free trial, subscription required)
8. Good On You: For Ethical Fashion
If you’re looking to improve your shopping, you might want to start by learning more about ethical shopping and what brands are considered ethical. Good On You is the app that can help you figure it out.
The app is easy to use. All you have to do is search the app for a brand name or type of product, then tap it and see how it rates. The rating scores are based on the brand’s labor, environmental, and animal rights practices.
That way, you can make informed purchasing decisions according to the information you learn about the brands. Good On You also offers some discounts for its users, so you can save money while shopping.
Download: Good On You for iOS | Android (Free)
Are You Ready for a Greener Lifestyle Change?
Changing your ways might feel like a lot of work. But nowadays, there are plenty of tools that can make it easier if you work one step at a time. And if it’s for a good cause, like saving our planet for future generations, then why not make an effort?
Speaking of future generations, if you want to share the effort with others, check out some educational games that teach children about the environment.
Read the full article: Go Green: 8 Free Apps for a More Eco-Friendly Lifestyle
