5 simple ways your smartphone can help you live a cleaner, greener life
April 22nd is Earth Day, an annual event dedicated to reflecting on our big, beautiful planet and the things that we can do to keep it beautiful and healthy.
Millions of people around the world celebrate Earth Day, pitching in to plant trees, clean up litter, and learn about how our actions affect the environment. But did you know that there are things that you can do year round to reduce your consumption and leave a smaller footprint? And even better, your smartphone can help. Read on to discover five simple ways that you and your smartphone can team up to help you live a cleaner, greener life that can make the world a better place for future generations. Remember, you can make a difference!
Reduce your energy consumption at home
Heating and cooling account for around 48% of energy use in an average US home, much of which leads to wasted energy that contributes to environmental issues. Many of us do what we can to reduce our heating and cooling bills by only using what is necessary, but why not take it a step further? Smart thermostats such as tado° or ecobee let you save energy by heating or cooling your home in the most efficient ways possible by, for example, adjusting temperatures when no one is home. Using the Windows Phone app along with the system results in an intelligent smart thermostat that not only reduces the energy that you consume in your home, but cuts down on your energy bill as well.
Reduce your fuel emissions
I think we can all agree that air pollution is a bad thing. Unfortunately, transportation, the single largest source of air pollution in the US, is necessary for us to go about our daily lives. We can, however, make a few small changes that can help out when it comes to fighting air pollution. Using public transportation, planning your routes to most efficiently use fuel, biking, and walking can all help to reduce emissions. And luckily, there are plenty of apps dedicated to making the most of your commutes. HERE Transit and HERE Drive are great options that can help you cut back on fuel use, while still getting you to your destinations safely and on time.
Cut down on paper use
One of the major benefits of technology is the ability to reduce paper usage, which in turn helps to preserve the world’s forests and cut back on carbon emissions. Your smartphone is an important tool in the process, helping you to use less paper than ever before. Access to paperless billing, using e-reader services like Flipboard, and even using OneNote and OneDrive for your notes and files can make difference in how much paper you waste. Creative doodlers can even use artistic apps like Fresh Paint as their creative outlet rather than using paper.
Go green with apps
We’ve already mentioned how apps such as transportation apps and e-readers can help make a difference, but there are plenty more apps that can help you go green. Here’s three to start with. Ecosia is a search engine that donates 80% of its income to a tree planting program in Brazil. PaperKarma help you get rid of wasteful paper junk mail by unsubscribing you. EcoFinder locates all of the alternative fueling stations near you.
Donate or recycle your old phones
Millions of old phones get tossed by users every year as they’re replaced by newer models. Luckily, that’s an easy thing to fix if you put your mind to it. There are quite a few charities that would love to have your old smartphone. For example, many zoos in the US collect old phones to support endangered great apes and their habitats, Phones4Charity collects phones for a variety of charities such as the National Wildlife Federation, and Rainforest Connection uses donated smartphones to help protect rain forests from illegal logging by turning them into guardians that listen for active chainsaws. If none of these donation services strike your fancy, you can always simply recycle your old smartphone.
There you have it, 5 simple ways your smartphone can help you live a cleaner, greener life and make the world a better place for the future. Now that we’ve shared our own tips, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. How do you make a difference with your Lumia?