In today’s digital age, technology is playing a pivotal role in driving environmental change, and mobile applications (apps) are making it easier for individuals to make environmentally conscious choices. From reducing carbon emissions to tackling food waste, these apps aren’t just about convenience – they’re about empowering people to contribute to a greener future. Whether it’s cutting down on food waste or reducing one’s carbon footprint, in this article I explore some impactful apps that help individuals live more sustainably.
Figure 1: Image of green phone screen. [1]
When to Plug In: Optimising Energy Use
The “When to Plug In” app empowers you to adjust your energy use to when the electricity in your home is at its greenest, helping you reduce your carbon footprint [2]. By providing a live carbon intensity forecast for the next 48 hours in Great Britain, the app lets you know the best times to use electricity from renewable sources like wind, solar, and nuclear. Therefore, you can adjust your energy use to times when the electricity in your home is the greenest, such as when charging an electric vehicle or doing laundry. Knowing that the energy is coming from renewable sources feels like a win for both you and the planet.
The app makes it easy for the average person to take advantage of the country’s growing renewable energy infrastructure by providing a detailed breakdown of the energy sources powering each region. It also tracks interconnectors linking the UK to neighbouring countries’ energy systems and offers real-time updates when new clean energy records are set. Powered by National Grid ESO’s carbon intensity tool, the app gives users the power to make smarter, greener choices in their everyday lives.
Too Good To Go: Rescuing Food
Food waste is a huge issue in the UK, but apps like Too Good To Go are helping us tackle it [3]. The app allows users to buy surplus food from local cafes, bakeries, and restaurants at a fraction of the price, preventing perfectly good food from ending up in the bin. Consumers can enjoy meals at half price or less, while businesses can turn a profit from surplus stock.
My loved ones and I love this app because it offers affordable meals and supports businesses in reducing waste. It’s an impactful tool in the fight against food waste and it even encourages us to try new foods we might not have considered otherwise.
Nosh: Keeping Track of What’s in Your Fridge
If you’re like me, food waste in your own home can be difficult to avoid, but the Nosh app might help [4]. The app is designed to track the expiry dates of products in your fridge and cupboards so you don’t wake up to find spoiled milk or vegetables you forgot about. Nosh advertises a real-time tracking and color-coded system to help you keep an eye on what needs to be used first. There is also an integrated shopping list feature to avoid accidentally buying what you already have at home.
Nosh advertises that they help plan meals based on what’s in your fridge, reducing waste and saving money. It’s a simple but effective way to manage food consumption in a busy household, and it could be great for anyone looking to reduce their environmental footprint from home. Unfortunately, Nosh is currently unavailable on the UK Apple App Store, but it is accessible via Google Play – I’m excited for when there will be broader availability in the UK.
Modern Milkman: Reviving an Old Tradition Sustainably
My grandma has always had a milkman, a tradition that faded as longer-lasting milk in single-use plastic containers became common in supermarkets. The Modern Milkman is an app that brings back the traditional milk delivery service but with a sustainable twist [5]. It delivers fresh milk, groceries, and household products to your door using reusable and/or recyclable packaging – particularly for milk and cold drinks, eliminating the need for single-use plastic. You can schedule deliveries up to three times a week, and they say that everything is sourced from trusted local suppliers.
Though it’s not available in my area, the idea of reducing waste through simple changes like this is inspiring. It’s a practical way for households to make more sustainable choices without any added hassle, as small changes in daily habits can have a big impact on reducing packaging waste and supporting local producers. For reference, I use Milk&More, a similar service that delivers to my area, and you might find your local milkman with a quick internet search [6].
Earth Hero: Guiding Personal Climate Action
Earth Hero is an app that empowers individuals to take meaningful climate action by offering personalised carbon reduction plans [7]. You start by filling out a survey that helps you determine your current carbon emissions. From there, the app provides ideas for simple actions you can take, tracks your progress, and even offers tips on larger-scale actions, like advocating for policy changes or joining community initiatives.
Earth Hero makes you feel like your personal actions are part of something bigger. It reminds us that individual efforts can have a measurable impact when they’re combined with collective actions. It’s about more than just changing your habits; it’s about becoming an advocate for a more sustainable world. Whether it’s reducing household emissions or getting involved in local environmental efforts, Earth Hero provides a roadmap for making a difference.
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References
[1] Mart Production, A Person Holding a Smartphone, Pexels, 2021. https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-person-holding-a-smartphone-9558226/. Accessed on 14/10/2024.
[2] National Grid, WhenToPlugIn: your carbon intensity app, 2024. https://www.nationalgrid.com/cop26/when-to-plug-in-app. Accessed on 14/10/2024
[3] Too Good To Go International, Too Good to Go, 2024. https://www.toogoodtogo.com/en-us. Accessed on 14/10/2024.
[4] Nosh Technologies, Nosh: Convenience comes first, 2024. https://nosh.tech/. Accessed on 14/10/2024.
[5] The Modern Milkman, The Modern Milkman: Convenience with a conscience, 2024. https://themodernmilkman.co.uk/. Accessed on 14/10/2024.
[6] Milk & More, Start Your Day The Right Way | Fresh Milk Delivery, 2024. https://www.milkandmore.co.uk/?gclsrc=aw.ds&&bidkw=milk%20and%20more&dvc=c&h=https://clickserve.dartsearch.net/link/click?lid=43700076673169750&ds_s_kwgid=58700008005412940&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgrO4BhC2ARIsAKQ7zUkE5hSlqrlQukc79IJGU6ZcStDrtX9TpTpbcuJyLvm4UnWJpsVdrCAaAhHaEALw_wcB. Accessed on 14/10/2024.
[7] Earth Hero, Earth Hero: Home, 2024. https://www.earthhero.org/. Accessed on 14/10/2024.