JouleBug: Legacy Reviews

I love JouleBug, but as other people have said:
-I wish we could delete unintentional buzzes. I’ve accidentally buzzed before without adding the picture, and couldn’t just buzz it again and add it because that wouldn’t be fair.
-I wish there were more activities, because there actually aren’t that many specific to my lifestyle, and although the custom sustainable action is nice, i wish there were more activities with the specific numbers of waste/water/co2 saving specific to it
-I wish we could favorite activities we do a lot, and categorize ones that are impossible for us somewhere else so they don’t clog up all the others.

Who knew tracking your positive environmental impacts could actually be fun and competitive? I don’t think I’ve ever written an app review before but I’m very passionate about the ideas behind JouleBug and it’s so incredibly well made! I’m surprised more people don’t know about JouleBug. You just click a button any time you complete one of the eco-friendly activities like using a reusable water bottle instead of plastic, buy local produce, recycle, or volunteer and JouleBug tracks your impact in areas like waste reduction and water saved. You can add photos and comments and join local competitions. Amazed by JouleBug!

I just discovered JouleBug today, and I absolutely love it! It’s fun, it’s easy, and it’s mission is wonderful. But only 18 people have rated this? Where are all of the users? I found JouleBug on Apples “Apps we’re loving.” Surely more than 18 people would have caught on?

And the last update was a year ago. Hopefully they pick up again, because I’d love to see some new actions or challenges. I know there are active users on this, but more than 2 challenges would be really nice.

Lovely app, though! I don’t usually write reviews, but I decided to express my thoughts.

I really like seeing an estimated tally of how much of a difference buzzed actions save over time. The challenges can be fun too. It’s great to see others and the ideas they come up with. I definitely recommend!

I do have one suggestion: can the developers update the book and movie options? There are so many great books and films that are educational and inspiring about the environment and sustainability. Please add more to the lists for each action, thanks!

I adore JouleBug! I really hope more people join in on the fun. Would love even more sustainable choices to buzz!!

This is the best app I have ever gotten, however, no one really knows about it so I recommend advertising it!

this app is tons of fun and great for the planet too.

I hate JouleBug. I used to love it, but after winning one of their challenges I emailed them to receive my prize (which the instructions say to do) and they never sent my prize or got in touch with me.

When I first opened it, I answered some preliminary questions, and then it wouldn’t load no matter how many times I closed out of JouleBug and opened it up or used different wi-fi.

It’s a big world and you guys obviously only interact with your only white people. I hear there’s good money in marketing to your kind but not sure sustainability is it. Maybe target practice or sheep shagging?

I know from experience that saving flushes is awful. It makes the bathroom smell like pee. It stains the toilet bowl. For the love of humanity, FLUSH THE TOILET

I think that JouleBug is an AWESOME idea! It teaches energy conservation in a manner that is both really fun and educational! It also allows you to link to your Facebook account and show your friends how much greener you are living. It's a great app and I recommend that everyone should download it!!!!!!

I LOVE that people are making lifestyle changes that benefit the environment. Unfortunately, the actions I see people doing the most often are superficial things that even if EVERYBODY did, we would still be facing some of the same problems with the environment that we’re facing now. So, I have some ideas.

1)However, many of these things require you to buy something, which can be very counter productive (CO2 emissions from the gathering of materials, transportation of materials, labor- are these workers getting fair pay or are they children or slaves, no I’m not exaggerating- transportation to store, and so on). Will this item be used enough times that the waste and emissions it saves will be greater than what was needed to be created? Or will it be throw away when it goes out of style?

2) Also, I would love to see things like choosing to repurpose or reuse something rather than throwing it away when it breaks and buying another new thing. Or, choosing to buy something used, such as clothes, furniture, and appliances, rather than new. This actually has quite a large impact

3) I would like to see that some of the harder, and more impactful things give more points than simply filling up you hydro flask (e.g. patching holes in the ceiling/ window, creating greywater recycling system, buying local produce, choosing second hand, setting up a compost, etc). I would like this because many people are getting points for things they would do anyways (which isn’t a bad thing!), but the people who are putting more time and effort are getting the same, if not less, points than those who are buzzing nothing except their reusable water bottle, silverware (that they probably bought new for really cheap online, I wonder who made that for you?), and riding the bus to school. I’m not saying that these are bad things to do (except the unconscious consumerism), but should these people who are only doing the same thing over and over again be getting more points than people who are branching out and trying new things. Not to diss anyone but.....

4) I know some people would not use this, but personally, I would love to be able to track my negative impact as well to get a perspective of net impact, if it’s positive or negative. These would be things like buying something new that was probably cheaper than it should’ve been (as opposed to second hand or fair trade), tracking waste that I produce, every time I charge my phone/computer/ etc since that uses lots of energy, adding gas to my car, eating meat (measures by type and ounces/ grams), cheese, or eggs, forgetting my reusable bag/ cup/ silverware/ etc.. A little bit like having your own earth overshoot day

5) I think it would be cool if there was a section that taught about conscious consumerism, activism, the waste cycle, from production to landfill, fair trade, organic farming practices, palm oil and deforestation, renewable energy, fossil fuels, and the list goes on!
******I believe that educating people is the biggest impact that ANY of us can have!!!******

Anyways, this was a veeeeeeeerrrrrry long review, but I hope the developers see this and continue to improve JouleBug . This is a GREAT app idea, but has room for improvement, just like all of us!!!

I love that this is a social game/app that encourages me to do something good for my wallet instead of going out to restaurants and spending money. Funny how the competition for a few points can help me get over the hump to walk to work or remember to turn down the thermostat when I leave home - helping my gas bill, too!

The latest version works well, and links to Facebook so your friends see your latest badges. Its a great way share your energy saving with your friends and keep your power low. I can't wait for the next update!

Great app! Makes staying green fun and interesting. I would suggest an update to allow you to delete a post if you post something twice on accident though! I am super ocd so that bothers me, other than that, JouleBug is perfectly amazing in every way!!!

A fun game and easy to navigate. My power bills have been smaller since I start turning off my power strips to earn the vampire slayer badge. I love the scoreboard comparing you to friends also!

On more than one occasion I have received accidental buzz's from network glitches/hiccups- whatever you want to call it, "general errors." Any way, I would like the option to delete un intended buzzs, like to day I was trying to buzz something and it wasn't working then later in the day I tried again and I ended up with 6 buzzs when I only needed 1

Makes me want to change the world! Would recommend to everyone.

This is super fun and I love being able to connect with friends on here. Really cool idea! Easy to use too.