Scientists are having a tough time calculating the true carbon footprint of new AI technologies like ChatGPT, but since the computing power needed is massive and the user base is astronomical, the energy consumption will probably be as well.
April 22 is Earth Day, so instead of giving another AI tool this week, I’m sharing some tech tools that will help you take some small steps to decrease waste and cut down on energy consumption.
Four Apps for Earth Day
PaperKarma:
App to Unsubscribe from Paper Catalogs and Junk Mail
I’ve been using PaperKarma for years to snap pictures of unwanted magazines, solicitations and advertisements that fill up my mailbox. PaperKarma submits my name to the companies to be removed from the list. There’s a free trial for four unsubscribes, but it’s well worth the $25 a year. You can also go on an unsubscribe spree for $3.99 for a month.
Earth Hero:
Environmental App to Make Important Changes
Take the first step to doing your part with Earth Hero, an app that helps you calculate your carbon footprint and offers suggestions and ideas for living a greener life.
Print Friendly:
Remove Clutter from Web Pages for Cleaner PDFs and Hard Copies
Don’t you hate it when you try to print something from the web and you get one page of info and 15 pages of ads, footers and junk? Print Friendly eliminates the paper waste by removing clutter from web pages so you print just the info you need without killing all the trees and eating all your printer ink.
BONUS! Using Print Friendly can also bypass some paywalls — even some that 12Ft Ladder can’t scale. 🙂
Too Good to Go:
Reduce Food Waste by Grabbing Grab Bags of Goodies
According to Too Good to Go, food waste accounts for about 10% of greenhouse gas emissions. The app helps you find restaurants that discount their still-awesome leftovers rather than tossing them. You get a yummy bargain, the restaurant gets a little money, and together you make a difference.
