Sustainable Living AI Assistant Series"Petal and Pixel: When AI Meets Nature

Welcome back to the second week of my journey with Petal and Pixel, where I’m diving deeper into the intersection of AI and nature using the Earth Hero app to guide me toward a more sustainable lifestyle.

Last week, I shared how I started using Earth Hero, an app designed to help track and reduce my carbon footprint. It gave me a sobering reality check: my annual CO₂e emissions were 11.3 tonnes—higher than the British average of 7.8 tonnes and the global average of 5.1 tonnes. Determined to make a change, I set out to take actionable steps, and this week, I’m excited to share my progress.

Week 2: Taking Action and Seeing Results

Over the past week, I’ve been actively using Earth Hero to guide my decisions. The app’s gamified approach has been motivating—I’m now at Level 12: Sustainability Strategist, with 2,269 Earth Points out of 2,400 needed to level up. In the last six months (including this week’s efforts), I’ve achieved 108 actions, earned 2,269 points, and saved 3,754 kg of emissions. That’s a tangible impact, and I’m proud of the progress!

One of my goals this week was to “Buy from regenerative farms,” which aligns with Earth Hero’s suggestion to support sustainable agriculture. I sourced local produce from a nearby farm practicing regenerative methods, which not only reduced my food miles but also felt rewarding to support eco-friendly farming. The app marked this as an “Ambitious” action, worth 30 points, and it’s one of the 41 goals I’m currently working on.

Reflections and Challenges

Earth Hero’s “Progress Summary” has been a great motivator, showing me the direct impact of my actions. Seeing that I’ve saved 3,754 kg of emissions in six months feels like a win, but I know there’s still a long way to go to bring my carbon footprint closer to the global average. One challenge I faced this week was balancing convenience with sustainability—sourcing regenerative produce took more time and planning than a quick supermarket run, but the environmental payoff made it worthwhile.

The app also shared a quote that resonated with me: “If you are not making mistakes, then you are not making decisions,” by Catherine Cook. It reminded me that this journey is about progress, not perfection. I’m learning as I go, and Earth Hero’s guidance has made it easier to take meaningful steps.

Looking Ahead

As I head into Week 3, I’m aiming to tackle more of Earth Hero’s suggested actions, like reducing energy use at home and exploring plant-based meals. The app’s “30 Day Earth Challenge” is inspiring me to try simple actions over the next month, and I’m excited to see how much further I can lower my emissions.

Join me next week as I continue this journey with Earth Hero, blending AI and nature to live more sustainably. Have you tried any sustainability apps? I’d love to hear your experiences—share them in the comments below!