How can we use technology to help save the planet?

Real-time, not pre-planned, get a free ride and save gas (and carbon emissions)

Let's face it, even in Silicon Valley, bosses tend to want to reach out an nag you. So use the phone for IM, video, conferencing, and location monitoring while you work from home so that the boss is happy, and knows you're not off surfing, and you save real gas and carbon emissions.

This is relevant only in urban centers, but why not save a buck and encourage cab shares? Need real-time location based service to ping a radius and announce that you want to share a cab in the next 5 minutes. Simple to do.

Silly, but might be effective, maybe....? How about a "twitter" every time you do something simple to save energy --- unplug unused appliances, turn off lights. I mean, if we see other people doing it, the peer pressure might force us to change our habits.

I've seen some "carbon counters" recently on how much carbon emissions it takes to make that hamburger. So why not a mobile app that lets you find out about a meal choice, or product choice, or green businesses in your area, etc.

Essentially earn points or something for participating in energy saving activities. Get alerts on various prizes and contests for such things. Would need companies to sponsor, of course, but they'll like looking supportive of a good cause.

Has nothing to do with drugs. Friday after work, use the location finder tools on your phone or web to set a meeting point at pubs nearby 2 train/transit points. This works best in urban areas of course. Make sure the stops are within cab distance of all participants houses. Each team (chosen by home depot, or randomly, or Hots vs. Nots, etc.) kicks in a few bucks each into the "kitty". Now have have sprints back and forth between pubs using the train/transit only. Upon arrival, each team member must imbibe a drink declared by the other team. First team to get all drinks wins. The cash in the "kitty" is used to buy cab rides home for all. Everyone makes new friends, saves a car trip to and from work, and in general learns more about the availability of transit in their area.

Yes, I realize it's complex, but c'mon, you gotta have structure to play a game! Sheesh.

Would need some sort of home energy monitoring interface...but wouldn't it be cool to be able to see in real time exactly how much unused appliances are using and be able to turn them off completely....this is pretty complicated, I would guess, but if anyone has info on how to do this, please comment!

Then of course...make it contest and challenge your neighbors to keep up!

OK, this one is out there, but according to:
http://globalwarming-facts.info/50-tips.html
Drying your clothes on a line is a good way to save energy, but c'mon, who's going to bother!?

But of course, add a keg and some new friends to the mix? Maybe? Hmmmm....well worth a shot.
(Oh, the tech? Same kind of location based friend finder tool as above.)

Inspired by all those 1st grade projects we all did around Arbor Day...use online maps to find where to plant trees...then plant one and update your MySpace or Facebook page with your little guy. Invite others in your area to snap photos near your tree and upload to Flickr, Zooomr, etc. See who can either plant the most, the most popular, etc.

Get realtime updates on your phone when someone is nearby.

OR even better --- use SMS and maps to find folks in other cites, states, countries who will plant one for you. Agree to some exchange of karma, or send them home baked cookies...something non-cash.

Track all driving -- simple start/stop GUI, like a stopwatch. Calculate energy/carbon/gas over time. See where you rank in your town, occupation, college, FaceBook/MySpace network, etc.

I heard a presentaion from Spark Parking, who is installing expensive parking sensors to allow a central controller (parking company, or worse, parking cops) to monitor open/overdue spots. Booo on the parking tickets...BUT...they made one great point: every day in urban centers, people drive around for minutes (seems like hours!) looking for parking! Ever been in NYC, SF, DC, Seattle!? C'mon, this is easy to do via phone. Just SMS or use mobile web when you leave a spot, and when you take a spot. Sure, the spots would need to be numbered or identified (or use GPS on your phone, etc.) But folks could see a realtime map of it and then use it to get a spot. You could even "reserve" it, but that wouldn't stop someone not participating from horking your spot. But even if it cuts the time in 1/2, it makes for a huge daiy savings! Also, you could do mini-rideshares where folks in various parts of the city park in one lot and then cab together...see cab idea above.

Yikes! This just goes to show how fundamental, and subtle, our behavior will need to change:
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/117/features-message-in-a-bottle.h
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Essentially the same as