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| Source switchboard.nrdc |
Since the
boom of the smartphone started, a huge number of smart applications or Apps
have arrived on the market. We wanted to share the list of sustainability-related
Apps compiled by treehugger and Apps
for the environment from the Natural Resources Defense Council
(NRDC). One of our favourites from this list is ‘Gardening
Toolkit’ which teaches you how to be a good gardener. It finds where you live, gives
suggestions for the best plants to grow in your area, helps keep track of what
you have planted and gives tips for beginners.
Another
very helpful App is ‘Bike Repair’
which must surely be a big relief for cyclists everywhere. ‘Bike Repair’ provides 55 repair guides
with photos and explanations for 73 different problems. So you don’t have to worry if you break
down in the middle of nowhere, or at least not as much!
These eco-Apps
(another great list from ENN) have become tools for environmental education and
action, providing advice on everything from gardening, cycling and bike repair
to giving directions and comparing the carbon footprint for driving, public
transport and air travel.
Energy
Apps help consumers optimise their energy and water consumption, monitor their
appliances, water heater and other electronics. There are Apps to measure and remotely operate HVAC devices
(heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), rainwater, window shutters and
blinds and lighting systems.
In the
context of Smart Grids and renewables, Eco-Apps can provide information about
renewable energy conversion and variable price grid management. As we learned at the launch of Cullen
International’s new Smart
Energy Monitoring Service at EU Sustainable
Energy Week, the ‘smart’ behind Smart Energy and Smart Grids is where the
integration of smart technology with existing power networks takes place. This technology can potentially revolutionise
the way we consume energy and give consumers better access to energy from
renewable sources. Maybe Apps will
one day catch up to that level of sophistication.
Blog by Aris Koutentakis
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