Use your Phone to Go Green

Earth Day is April 22nd, but the whole month is dedicated to saving our planet’s environment. According to the Earth Day Network, that date- is the largest civic observance in the world, with more than one billion people participating in Earth Day activities each year.

Earth Day on your Phone

You can become more eco-savvy simply by using your mobile phones and/or tablets. Here are some apps that can help you make a positive impact on our planet every day. All are free and available in the App Store (iOS) or via Google Play (Android).

Dropcountr – Your Mobile Water Use Portal

Dropcountr’s HOME platform helps you save water and money. It connects your home directly to your water utility company and allows you to track your water usage. By checking your personal use and comparing it via Dropcountr’s charts with the average household use in your neighborhood, city or county, the awareness could reduce your water consumption. You can set personal water use goals based on your household profile and lifestyle.

Another great feature? Leak detection. While you’re on vacation, Dropcountr identifies and alerts you to a leak remotely, so you can alert help and prevent returning to a disaster. Dropcountr allows consumers access to special rebates and offers for indoor and outdoor appliances that save money, too; the app is also available in Spanish.

iRecycle – Find Local Recycling Fast

This app answers two questions: “Can I recycle this? If so, who takes it?”  iRecycle has been featured as the iTunes “App of the Week” more than five times and tells you how, where and when to recycle just about anything. This resource provides access to more than 1,600,000 ways to recycle over 350 materials. It includes details for collections points, such as the website, phone number, operating hours and materials collected. For use in the U.S. only.

The Ecology Center

The Ecology Center is a clearinghouse for information and activism on a variety of environmentally sensitive topics: Food, Zero Waste, Climate, Youth, and Sustainable Living. Although based in California, they offer a variety of useful Fact Sheets on Green Topic, which can be found here.

My Conscience, My Choice

This website, available here, helps consumers make more earth friendly, cruelty-free product choices by suggesting substitutions for everyday products. Check out their selection and download the app here.

Seafood Watch – Support a Healthy Ocean

The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch app helps you choose ocean-friendly seafood at stores and restaurants with up-to-date, scientific recommendations about seafood that is fished or farmed in an eco-friendly way. You can learn more about the seafood you’re eating as well.  Search for seafood quickly and easily by entering the common market name or get locations of nearby restaurants that serve sustainable seafood. (You can look up sushi by its Japanese name, too.)

It’s Easy to be Green

Along with using apps, there are many little things you can do to celebrate and help save the Earth:

• Join the Earth Day Network and be part of the largest environmental movement worldwide.
• Celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd . . . and every day.
• Buy reusable bags and use a refillable water bottle.

Want to learn more?  Check out the Senior Planet interview with one of the architects of Earth Day, Peter Harnik, available here.

Want some inspiration? Read this Inspiring Story about Sokie Lee and how her one-woman cleanup champaign triggered a movement.

Your Turn

What do you do on Earth Day?  Have you incorporated eco-friendly habits in your shopping and daily life? Let us know in the comments!