thewayne: (Default)
The Wayne ([personal profile] thewayne) wrote2019-08-03 12:14 pm

Search for info on the world wide web, plant a tree!

This is an amazing thing, and they've been doing it for a decade! A German entrepreneur created a search engine that, for approximately every 45 searches on its site, they plant a tree! They've built renewable power plants. They have a branch of the company (heh, heh) that monitors satellite imagery of the areas they've planted to make sure things are going well.

The company is Ecosia, and their web site has a running counter of how many trees that they've planted. The first eco-search engine that he tried to set up was in partnership with Google, but that quickly ended. This engine's results are back-ended with Bing. I'm not sure what I think of that, I just switched my iMac's Firefox browser to it, so I'll be seeing. I'm running three browsers on my iMac, so I'll be switching my Safari browser to it later, then I'll have to reconfig my laptops (yes, I have two: a MacBook Pro and an Asus running Windows 10), and then I'll have to consider my two iPads and my iPhone. THEN I'll have to think about my work computer....

Oh: if you create an account on their system, it'll show how many trees that your searches are responsible for planting! I do a lot of searches at the library, I expect I could be good for a tree a week maybe!

https://www.ecosia.org

https://www.spiegel.de/international/business/ecosia-start-up-aims-to-use-your-search-results-to-plant-trees-a-1278617.html

By the way, if you have an Apple device, and perhaps Android, you can subscribe to Der Spiegel's international edition for $1 a month on a six-month subscription! Lots of good stuff.


Speaking of trees, a recent study shows that living surrounded by leafy trees is much better for your wellness. I need to read the article as the forest that I live in is mainly pines. I could clear some and plant some leafy things that might be hearty enough to survive up here, but I don't know how long they'd take to be beneficial.

https://www.citylab.com/environment/2019/07/urban-tree-canopy-green-space-wellbeing-research/595060/
silveradept: A kodama with a trombone. The trombone is playing music, even though it is held in a rest position (Default)

[personal profile] silveradept 2019-08-04 04:05 am (UTC)(link)
The article suggests the leafy trees are good because they provide for all sorts of other biodiversity, so I don't know how effective the trees would be immediately, but over time, they should be useful.
howsmyenglish: (Default)

[personal profile] howsmyenglish 2019-08-04 12:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you for this! I love the idea, I've found some reviews online (after reading your post) and I'm going to try them out!
howsmyenglish: (Default)

[personal profile] howsmyenglish 2019-08-04 04:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Spread the word!
I did! And will continue! :D
scifimike: (Stormtrooper)

[personal profile] scifimike 2019-08-08 11:48 am (UTC)(link)
I love this idea, I've bookmarked the site and I'll have to try to remember to use it. Thank you for the recommendation