There are lots of ways you can help save the planet from your home. Obviously, making sustainable switches in the kitchen and cleaning products you use helps, as does conserving energy in any way you can. But did you know that your web browser could also empower you to help the environment?
If you use Google Chrome, then you probably know how convenient it is to have your tabs saved across multiple devices. But the browser also has an extensive library of extensions, allowing you to personalize your account and give you tools to enhance your browsing experience.
Some of these extensions allow you to scan the internet for coupons or check your grammar. But some can actually benefit the planet while you browse. Here are 4 of the best extensions for helping the environment.
This Tab Helps the Planet
Donating to environmental nonprofits is a great way to contribute to the fight to save the planet. But most people can only afford to donate a little bit every once in a while. The Chrome extension “This Tab Helps the Planet” eliminates this limitation, making it convenient, easy, and free for users to contribute to environmental charities as they browse the internet. How does it work? Once the extension is installed, users will see ads every time they open a new tab. The new tab page also contains a search bar for easy navigation. Over time, the extension begins to build up donations for every tab the user opens. Users can choose where their donations go, whether it’s an organization planting trees, reducing waste, or saving endangered species.
Data science often gets a bad rap, but this extension is a good example of how technology and data collection can be used for good. This extension offers an effortless way to consistently donate to your favorite causes, with advertisers footing the bill. It’s a win-win!
The Great Suspender
You probably don’t think about how much energy your computer is using very often. In the grand scheme of things, your desktop or laptop probably isn’t adding to your electric bill that much. But it’s still important to find ways to save energy whenever you can.
The Great Suspender can help you manage your computer’s memory and its energy use. Chrome can use up a lot of memory and battery or electricity if you keep lots of tabs open. This extension streamlines your computer’s processes by suspending unused tabs in the background automatically when they haven’t been opened in a while.
This extension doesn’t get rid of your tabs, it just saves them and frees up your computer’s memory for other things. The Great Suspender can effortlessly improve performance and save energy. Let’s face it: most people are guilty of leaving ten or more tabs open on a regular basis. Don’t let them waste energy and slow down your computer!
SmileAlways.io
Do you use Amazon Smile? It’s Amazon’s program that allows you to donate to your favorite causes while you shop. The catch? You have to shop from a specific url—smile.amazon.com. It’s not difficult to do, but it’s easy to forget that you need to go to a different site if you want your purchases to count.
Install the SmileAlways.io extension and you’ll always be redirected to the appropriate URL when you visit Amazon from Chrome. You can choose your charity and contribute every time you buy something.
Earth View from Google Earth
To save the earth, we need to appreciate its wonders. The Earth View extension allows you to see an incredible aerial image from Google Earth every time you open up a new tab. While getting this extension won’t help the environment directly, it can increase your knowledge of the Earth’s landscape and remind you to take action. We all have to pitch in to help the environment. Climate change is hurting our landscape, wildlife, and our livelihood leaving us in constant emergency preparedness mode. Individual actions alone aren’t enough, but it’s still important for each person to be invested in the future of the planet. These extensions represent one of many small steps you can take to be more aware and involved in the fight against climate change.
Our world is a beautiful place. Let’s use our browsers to help keep it safe and comfortable for all our amazing species.
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This content is sponsored by Andrew Deen.
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Photo credit: Shutterstock