Most of you will already be aware that your carbon footprint isn’t some kind of mould of your foot. It is indeed what is becoming a more regular term that is used to describe how our daily habits and purchasing decisions are impacting the planet. A carbon footprint is a phrase that has splintered off the original term called ecological footprint that was first coined in the nineties. It has since been popularized to reflect a measured value of how our energy usage affects the
planet.
By measuring our individual carbon footprint we feel more connected to the very tangible role we personally play in protecting the environment. There are an abundance of resources available; from online carbon calculators to Facebook and phone apps to help people learn what their footprint is and how to improve our footprints. Here is a small segment of a growing trend in carbon footprint awareness resources.
iHitchhike
The iHitchhike app is a great way to become part of a network of people who live in your area to share rides more often. If someone in your circle just a few streets down is preparing to go to the same place you need to go, you can jump online and see if you can pair up. If you are planning a road trip and would like to share the driving and gas, the app makes it easier to use and find other people through your Facebook. It will link where your planned destination is, it can help you find others with similar trip plans within your proximity.
Terra Pass
Terra Pass has a large range of calculators that can be used to calculate the carbon footprint of individuals, companies, and commercial flights. One of their most known calculators is called Green Flight. This calculator will help you find out what your flight’s carbon footprint is. Using the information from this calculator, you can compare the differences in flights carbon footprint numbers. The website also has blog listing with carbon offset ideas.
Bikely
Bikely is composed of a network of users who regularly cycle through the city instead of driving. This site is great for discovering the inside information from other cyclists. They can log in where there destination is, and how long it took them to get there. Posted routes can be downloaded into a GPS so you can take the route on the trail with you. Bikely will help the beginner bypass the frustration of learning the hard way through trial and error to get across town. This app helps to bring the network together to make biking a much more pleasurable and efficient means of transport. .
The Facebook Social Energy App
Facebook has now included a social energy app for its users. The company Opower created the application. Opower has included 16 major utility companies to participate in the social energy app. Customers of the power companies can post what their energy consumption is on Facebook. The app serves as a motivational tool for users to feel more socially responsible for how much energy they consume because their friends can see what their carbon footprint is.
Carbon Footprint (iOS)
Carbon footprint is a multifunctional app with a calculator that lets you enter how many miles, dollars, and gallons you used on your vehicle. You can track how much more or less you use over a course of time. The app can store information for a multiple set of cars. It will also translate the stored data into the amount of carbon emissions released by each vehicle annually.
Next time you’re entering the holiday hypermarket be sure to utilise some of the applications above to help offset your travel carbon footprint.