Fort Collins Green Living Examiner: Four of the Hottest iPhone Apps for Greener Living
Filed under: Earth911 - May 27, 2009
By Beth Buczynski
Even though the Apple iPhone’s somewhat snobbish takeover of all that is cool in the mobile/digital/computing world irks me, you can’t deny that there are some amazine apps out there. Like the one that can instantly tell you the calories of that bagel you’re eating, and exactly how many minutes you’ll have to dance around your living room to work it off.
Despite the ego and the pricetag that make the iPhone a little offputting to some, you can’t deny that it is a demonstration of the future of mobile technology, and that it has the potential to revolutionize the public’s connection to sustainable businesses, local resources, and green products.
Here are four ahead of the curve apps that are already making green living on-the-go possible:
App Name: Locavore (by Buster McLeod)
What it does: Informs you of what foods are being grown locally, what local foods are in season, and where you can find them (i.e. farmers’ markets).
From the creator: “Eating local food when it’s in season is an increasingly popular goal amongst people who are interested in eating the tastiest, healthiest food while also being good to the environment. Knowing what’s available in your area at a given time of year is often difficult to determine, so we’ve taken on the task of collecting data from a variety of sources and presenting it all in the most understandable of ways. The Locavore iPhone app will come in handy next time you’re at the market and want to know what’s actually being grown near you, and what is most likely to taste the best right now.” enjoymentland.com/locavore
Price: $2.99
App Name: 3rd Whale (by 3rd Whale)
What it does: Delivers business listings in four categories, Food, Ecotourism, Retail, Spa/Fitness, by proximity to the user via GPS. Also allows you to add a “favorite green place” that may not be in the 3rd Whale database yet, and rate/review the greeness of a business.
From the creator: “3rdWhale’s mobile application for the Apple iPhone lets you power up your green lifestyle. Find the nearest vegetarian restaurant, fair trade store, yoga center or bicycle shop. You can also use 3rdWhale Mobile to plan your next trip. Feel good that your purchases will match your values.” www.3rdwhale.com
Price: Currently FREE, but only for a limited time!
App Name: iRecycle (by Earth 911)
What it does: Allows users to pinpoint the nearest location to recycle specific items.
From the creator: “iRecycle can pull up local recycling locations using GPS, so an address isn’t needed. Along with the location’s basic information, iRecycle also gives a detailed list of all items accepted for recycling, the location’s hours and contact information and can even give you turn-by-turn directions.” earth911.com/iphone
Price: FREE
App Name: Carbon Tracker (by Clear Standards Inc.)
What it does: Enables users to track and manage their personal carbon footprints.
From the creator: “With Clear Standards Carbon Tracker for the iPhone, you can easily calculate the carbon footprint from your commuting, vacation, and business trips. Use the GPS feature while traveling to determine the length of each leg of your journey, so you don’t have to guess the distance. Set monthly “maximum emission” goals and monitor your progress against your own personal reduction targets.” www.clearstandards.com/carbontracker
Price: FREE