Green Technology

Technology is often thought of as time-saving, convenient and sometimes just plain fun, but your smartphone is also a powerful tool for conservation and smarter choices.

Digital news, books and emails all cut down on paper usage, but they also reduce waste and emissions from manufacturing and transportation. New technology lets you control your thermostat or sprinkler system from your smartphone, which conserves energy and water, and popular websites have opened up a global marketplace for selling and buying used goods. These technologies, when combined with mobile applications, provide resources and knowledge that allow you to better "Take Care of Texas" from the palm of your hand.

There are many green apps available, but here are a few to get started:

Amy Martin of GreenSourceDFW.org gives readers an ultimate guide to free and pay nature apps: North Texas Wild: Smart phone apps enhance your connection to nature Opens a New Window. .
Cut down on unwanted catalogs with PaperKarma Opens a New Window. . Simply take a picture of the catalog address label, submit it through the app and they remove you from the catalog’s mailing list.
Find local, convenient recycling opportunities on-the-go with iRecycle, brought to you by Earth911 Opens a New Window. . iRecycle lets you sort over 350 materials and gives you the recycling center’s or store’s phone number, hours, address, website and list of accepted materials.
Explore the great outdoors with the Project Noah app Opens a New Window. , a tool to explore and identify plants, birds and mammals while outside in Texas parks and gardens. Document your findings, read about local spotting events or join a mission.