In our work as sustainability advocates, we receive tons of feedback from folks who are just beginning to dip their toes into the Zero Waste game. Some find sustainable change much harder than they thought it would be, while others find it quite simple.
The single desire that remains consistent across all lifestyles and starting places, is the ability to organize and prioritize one’s sustainability goals. Most folks don’t have hours and hours per day to research the potential impacts of their lifestyle or the products they buy. It’s difficult to know exactly which actions and changes will have the most impact, and when faced with infinite choices, it’s easy to fall into decision paralysis – when we get so overwhelmed by choices, we lose the ability to decide. Then, we wait yet another day to act upon our good intentions.
No worries if this frustrating cycle sounds familiar to you, because I have great news. There’s an app that can help you get out of the cycle, and start making some real change!
Earth Hero
Earth Hero is available to both iPhone and Android users, in their respective app stores.
Upon download, the first thing that the app will have you do is make a personal emissions profile. You’ll fill in basic info about your lifestyle – how often you fly on an airplane, how you heat and cool your home, etc. – then show you how you rank up with American and Global emissions averages.
Then, the app will suggest tasks for you to complete to reduce your emissions and waste further. Some are simple and free, while others may take some time or investment. You can choose as many or as few as you like to work on at one time. Additionally, you can remove tasks from your to do lists altogether. If something is impossible for you, or you’re just not interested in making that particular change, the app isn’t going to continually bug you to do it. This is my favorite feature, because nothing bugs me more than staring at a list that contains action items I’ll never do!
Set your notifications accordingly so you’ll check in, even if you haven’t accomplished your tasks. If you’re not making progress as quickly as you like, simply move the timelines back. The best part? There are oodles of educational resources within the explanations of each task. Educating yourself on climate change is a “task” that can never be fully “completed” and Earth Hero can help you find websites, documentaries, and seminars to improve your abilities to discuss climate change in a way that gets others interested as well!
Every Day is a Good Day to Start
No matter where you’re at right now, today is a good day to give something new a try. Of all the apps I’ve tried, Earth Hero is the only one that is both free and has resources for folks at all points in their zero waste journeys.
Give it a try, and let us know what you think! And as always, if you have questions or need help, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.