Are you looking to save money on energy costs? Would you like to lower your environmental impact at the same time? If you are worried about your energy budget and want to reduce your impact by becoming more energy efficient, there are a number of smartphone apps to help you do that. Here are some of the best:
Meter Readings
If you want to become more energy efficient, you have to know how much energy you are using and where that use is coming from. Then you can look for ways to reduce your consumption. At home, the source of this information is your electricity meter. When you use the Meter Readings app, you check your meter, entering the numbers into the phone. The app calculates how much electricity you use each day, as well as the cost of that energy. You can graph out the daily, monthly, or yearly usage statistics and see the trends in your energy use. Once you know what is driving your energy costs, you can look for ways to reduce that use. [1]
Photo Source: Grahamhaley.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/daily.png?w=320&h=480
Light Bulb Finder
Replacing the light bulbs in your home may be one of the easiest ways to reduce home energy use. Switching from heat-producing incandescent light bulbs to more efficient (and supposedly longer-lasting) compact fluorescent and LED lighting can save you money. The problem is that it can be hard to find the right bulb for your fixtures. You might not know the right style or size of bulb that is equivalent to what you are replacing. The Light Bulb Finder app simplifies the replacement process by letting you input the type of bulb you are replacing and then telling you what type of bulb you are able to use. It also helps you find a place to purchase the new bulbs. [2]
Photo Source: Lightbulbfinder.net/tour.php
MyEnergyTips
Saving money on energy can be easy with the MyEnergyTips app. It takes the guessing out of what you can do to reduce your electricity usage. The app helps you define your energy-saving goals, survey your home for appliances, and gives you recommendations on what you can do to save money. You don’t have to think about what needs to be done – the app does it for you, keeping a running total of your energy savings and progress toward your energy goals. [3]
Photo Source: A4.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/057/Purple/e5/a6/dc/mzl.usqlrttd.320×480-75.jpg
TV Energy Labels
Shopping for a new TV? Not all are created equal when it comes to energy use. In order to help you find an energy-efficient television, App-etiser has created the TV Energy Labels app, an app that tells you what types of televisions are the most efficient. You can browse the TVs by the size and style you want, until you find one that is not only great for watching, but also uses the least amount of energy possible. [4]
Photo Source: A5.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/050/Purple/b7/fb/7b/mzl.mtnxklyh.320×480-75.jpg
greenMeter
Did you know that the way you drive can cause your car’s fuel usage to vary by a tremendous amount? That’s right, the smoother you drive, the less energy you use. The greenMeter app teaches you how to drive more efficiently. Sensors in the phone record how quickly you accelerate and how fast you drive, using the data to calculate how efficiently you are using your car. The feedback is very visual – green is good, red is bad – and over time, as you use the app, you will learn what type of driving leads to the best fuel efficiency. Just be careful when you are using it. You might be tempted to watch the app calculate your gas mileage instead of watching the road. [5]
iamgreen®
You might not think of smart phones as big energy users, but over time, the electricity it takes to run them adds up. iamgreen® is an app that helps your smartphone run more efficiently, saving you money. It works by helping you manage the settings on your phone, making it easy to shut off power-sucking services like Wi-Fi or GPS when you are not using them. You can reduce your carbon footprint and your dependence on electrical outlets when your battery lasts longer. It also includes an energy quiz that gives you many hints on how to improve your power use. [6]
Photo Source: Pcworld.com/appguide/app.html?id=453663&expand=false
ApPower
All of these apps monitor your energy use and help you keep on an eye on your energy efficiency. Believe it or not, you can also monitor the energy use of the apps themselves. ApPower calculates how much electricity running apps are using so that you do not run out of battery on your phone when you need it most. As the company says on its website, you will “know how much time you can play [with the apps] without being afraid of consuming all the energy of your battery.” Whether you choose to continue using apps that deplete your battery more quickly or not, you will always hold the power of how much power you’re using . [7]
Photo Source: App.downloadatoz.com/iphone/appower/
Green Genie
Do you ever struggle to understand what it means to be green? Green Genie is an app that helps guide you through the maze of green terms and gives you suggestions about how to become more environmentally friendly. It includes a glossary of green terms, a carbon footprint calculator, a guide to plastics recycling, and an interface that takes you to specific websites for more information when you rub its magic lamp. [8]
Photo Source:
Techcrunch.com/2010/08/10/top-ten-green-apps/
GoodGuide
One of the best ways you can become more green is by buying “greener” products at the store. Of course, with most corporations touting their green credentials, it can be a challenge to know who is telling the truth and who is just trying to “greenwash” you. GoodGuide was developed to give you a better idea of who is telling the truth. You enter a product’s name or use your phone to scan the bar code on the item and the app gives you that product’s health, environment, and social responsibility rating. The app is “like having a PhD in your pocket” to help you know what to buy. [9]
Photo Source: Techcrunch.com/2010/08/10/top-ten-green-apps/
Green Outlet
Green Outlet helps you understand how much electricity your appliances are using and how much each costs per month to run. You enter each of your appliances into the app and how much time you use them per day. The app calculates the energy used, how much they cost you, and gives you an idea of which ones you need to shut down to really reduce your electricity bill and put you on the path to a green home. The app also calculates your carbon footprint and gives you the option of buying carbon offsets from TerraPass. [10]
Photo Source: iphoneapplicationlist.com/2010/08/23/eco-app-of-the-week-green-outlet/
Sources:
1. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/meter-readings/id320551309?mt=8#
2. http://www.lightbulbfinder.net/
3. http://www.ballastlane.com/myenergytips
4. http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/tv-energy-labels/id405310644?mt=8#
5. http://hunter.pairsite.com/greenmeter/
6. http://sayiamgreen.com/home/
7. http://www.mycrazyapps.com/appower.html
8. http://www.heistdevice.com/
9. http://www.goodguide.com/
10. http://itunes.apple.com/app/green-outlet/id329692231?mt=8
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