WASHINGTON – Android users who’ve coveted the long lists of nature, wildlife and environmental apps for iPhone users need envy them no longer. There are now a variety of free apps you can find in the Android Marketplace and use to green up your day – whether it’s taking a walk in the woods or finding your nearest recycling station.
Environmental Terms – If you want to have a studious morning, spend it with this app. This minimalist tool may not have fancy pictures or videos, but it does have a large collection of acronyms, jargon and definitions that users can brush up on. Don’t know what black carbon or CFCs are? This app can provide a solid base.
Skeptical Science – If the basic carbon discussion in Environmental Terms isn’t cutting it for you, download the Skeptical Science app. It organizes the peer-reviewed science behind whether climate change is happening. Topics range from hurricanes and melting ice sheets to potential economic impacts and “climategate.”
Air Quality – Before heading into the great outdoors, check your local air quality with this app. Just enter your zip code and the app will pull up your pollution/particle and ozone ratings. The system is color-coded; green means go for it, red means either put your breathing mask on or stay inside and watch “Volcano” for the 14th time.
My Recycle List – As you head out the door, you might want to dispose of that accumulated recycling. My Recycle List helps you find your closest recycling center. Got a lot of plastic bottles? It can show you where to get rid of them. Old electronics? Those, too. Spent uranium fuel rods? No luck – but why do you have those? Listings include addresses, phone numbers, websites and hours.
EveryTrail – Assuming your air is breathable and your recycling is recycled, it’s time to get outside. EveryTrail lists thousands of trips for sightseeing, hiking, jogging, biking or otherwise touring around both nature and cities. Trips come with maps, tips and stats such as distance, approximate time, and altitude change. You can also track your own trip and upload pictures from the journey for others to use.
iBird Lite – While on the trail, keep an eye out for flying objects. Use the iBird Lite app to identify common species of birds. The app has bird calls, pictures, range maps, links to Birdpedia and Flickr, interesting facts and hints for identifying species. If you’re really keen on telling others about the bird you just saw, you can also upload a picture and tag the location using a different app – Project Noah.
Space Junk – If you’re out hiking past dark, take the opportunity to get back in touch with nature while using the Space Junk app. Space Junk uses your location to show you what stars are in the sky and labels them along with the constellations and satellites. It also has a nighttime mode that uses dim red light so you can look back and forth between the real night sky and your phone. Even if you can’t see stars from where you are, this app is the next best thing.
Locavore – A long day of hiking may leave you searching for something to eat. If you’re into local, organic produce that doesn’t require a lot of fuel to be transported, consider using Locavore. This app tells you what fruits and vegetables are in season in your area and suggests recipes to accompany them. You can also locate nearby farmers’ markets where you can go purchase your grub.
GoodGuide – At the end of your day, you might want to hop in the shower. If you are paranoid or just curious, you can check out the environmental friendliness and safety of your shampoo – or 92,000 other products – using GoodGuide. You can scan the barcode of the product or browse through the categories, which will tell you whether your product has any dangerous chemicals listed in it and how environmentally friendly the company that makes it is.
There are more apps to come: information from the Environmental Protection Agency may soon be accessible in the Android Marketplace. The EPA’s contest to design an app using its environmental and human health data is scheduled to end on Sept. 16.