There will always be a newer, more of-the-moment fad, but going green is one of the better sensations to get behind. It might be trendy to buy locally, make use of HOV lanes and pay bills online, but it’s hard to argue with trends that make you feel better about yourself and impact society in positive ways. There are numerous steps we can take to save the planet, and it’s our responsibility to find out what they are and adhere to as many as we can. The iPhone apps below make our jobs a little easier by spelling out just what we need to do to make a difference.
Shopgreen
Shopgreen’s opening menu allows you to choose from a list of green activities such as: Transport, Home, and Groceries. With this 99-cent iPhone app, you can calculate how many pounds of CO2 you save by answering questions about your grocery shopping habits; as well as by reporting the amount of bottles, cans, and newspapers you recycle. To think, recycling all those tomato soup cans and week-old papers is actually putting a dent in the amount of carbon dioxide we put into the atmosphere.
Green Genie
The Green Genie app (99 cents) offers a host of resources and projects, and a bank of glossary terms to help you adapt to a new green-friendly language. Projects are categorized from small to large, and there are some really helpful energy-saving solutions here. Perhaps ripping out your current toilet and replacing it with a brand new low- flow version is a little pricey, but how about putting a sealed plastic bottle of rocks or sand in your existing toilet tank so it takes up space and, in turn, reduces the amount of water used per flush?
Locavore
Locavore ($2.99) is exactly the kind of iPhone app I have been looking for. It’s full of lists I want to carry with me everywhere I go. For example, fruits and vegetables currently in season are: apples, asparagus, spinach, and radishes; and I now know what fruits and vegetables to expect next. Not only that, but Locavore offers an extensive list of salads, slaws, tarts, and dips to make using these seasonal ingredients. Not sure where to buy the goods? Use Locavore to find a list of farmers’ markets nearby.
GoodGuide
The GoodGuide iPhone app (free) rates food, personal care items, household cleaners, and toys according to how health, environmentally, and socially conscious they are. Looking for an ecologically friendly, ethical conditioner? Dr. Bronner’s Magic Organic Citrus Hair Rinse is an 8.7 out of 10. This company scores well on human rights and labor practices, as well as diversity in the workplace. Eggo Waffles were always your favorite food, but now you’re wondering how they rate on the GoodGuide scale? According to the GG, Eggo’s Nutri-Grain Whole Wheat version might be a better bet.
Go Green
Go Green (free) is a collection of almost 50 tips for improving our relationship to the environment. It presents a tip at a time, and as you make the rounds, all the tips are collected to form the Green List, which you can later use for reference. Some of the advice you’ve probably heard: Recycle, buy recycled products, keep cloth bags around for groceries rather than collecting new plastic ones after each supermarket run. However, some are more thoughtful: Use a push mower instead of a gas mower to groom your lawn, and install rain barrels to collect rainwater from your roof and awnings to reuse for your garden.
