Commuting to work is a necessary evil for some people. There are a lot of benefits of carpooling that you wouldn’t expect, but one you should know is that it reduces your carbon footprint. Even if you don’t drive to work, there are ways, by using apps on your iPhone, that go above just carpooling or taking public transportation to make your commute more green.
UberPool
UberPool helps you save money as well as helping the environment. Through Uber’s app you can use UberPool in some cities, a service that matches you with another rider who is going in a similar direction or to a destination close to yours. You and the other person share the cost of the Uber ride with very little interruption for your own trip. The advanced capabilities of the Apple iPhone 6 and its GPS system make it easy for Uber to find your exact location, and get you where you need to go. Since you are sharing the cost of the ride, you help both your wallet and the environment through this unique carpooling option.
Rideshare
Carpooling is not a new idea. Even before people had smartphones, companies like Rideshare existed to help make the process of carpooling easy and accessible. This company has actually been around for over 30 years, but now there is an app you can use to help carpool on your commute to work or to school. There are plenty of short- and long-term carpooling options, giving you the choice of personal transportation or group shuttle opportunities. With the app, it’s now quick and easy to set up carpools, thus saving money and helping the environment on your daily commute.
Automatic
You may not realize that you’re wasting a lot of energy during your commute through your driving habits. The app Automatic now helps you track a lot of information about these habits and your car. For $99 you can buy a device that plugs into your car’s diagnostic port. You can then download the free app, and you will be able to see your speeds, mileage, driving habits, and why your check engine light might be on. There are also added bonuses of the app, like integrating with expense reports and even finding your car in the parking lot. The more you know about your personal driving habits, the more you can adjust them to help the environment.
iBooks
While many of these apps focus on actual driving, there are other ways to make your commute greener that don’t involve a car. If you are a passenger in a carpool or you take public transportation to work, iBooks for the iPhone can further help to make your commute green. You may not realize how much paper you waste during your commute by buying books, magazines, and newspapers. iBooks allows you to download current books to your phone with a touch of a button, thus saving a lot of paper. It also keeps you from having to lug around bulky, heavy books in your briefcase or purse.
Apple offers similar apps to have current magazines and newspapers automatically downloaded to your phone, and you can often get a discount subscription service for your favorites.
Go Drive Green
The Go Drive Green app offers the ability to see how efficient you are in the car, including things like your speed, how hard you accelerate, quick stops, and even your idle times. All those things plus your specific routes are combined for your Green Score. The higher your Green Score, the better, meaning you are getting the most out of your fuel and your vehicle, and helping the environment along the way.
Every little bit helps when you consider the impact of large numbers of commuters on the environment. Even making small changes to your daily routine can make a big difference, especially if enough people do them. Consider downloading these apps to make it easier to go green on your commute.
