Here we look at; using Ecosia search engine, because every search through Ecosia removes 1kg of CO2 from the atmosphere! This is one of over 40 ideas in our Sustainability Roadmap to Help Stop Climate Change, part of our campaign to #VoteWithOurMoney, and part of our series on Living Sustainably.
If you already know you want to switch to a search engine that plants trees, here are the options to switch to Ecosia:
- Start using Ecosia as your search engine
If you want some more facts before making any decisions, let’s get into the details:
When you use Ecosia for your web searches, you help to plant trees in some of the harshest places on Earth; trees that benefit people, the environment, local economies, our lives, and the lives of future generations.
There are other reasons to use Ecosia for your web searches:
- Ecosia’s servers run on 200% renewable energy
- They don’t sell their data to advertisers
- They don’t use any third party trackers
- They anonymize all searches within one week
- And, they publish the monthly financial reports
If you want to play your part in helping to stop climate change, using Ecosia is a free, quick, and very easy change to make.
Next, let’s go through how you can switch to Ecosia.
First, You Can Use Ecosia search engine on Mobile and Tablet
If You Use an Android Device
Option 1 is to install the Ecosia app:
- Go to the Google Play Store and install the Ecosia app
- Then, just use the Ecosia app for all of your searches
Option 2 is to use the Google Chrome app:
- Go to the Google Play Store and install the Google Chrome app
- Open the Google Chrome app
- Click the 3 dots
- Go to Settings
- Go to Search engine
- Select Ecosia
- Then, just use the Google Chrome app for all of your searches, and it will default to the Ecosia search engine.
If You Use an iPhone, Here’s How to Update the Search Engine
Option 1 is to install the Ecosia app:
- Go to the App Store and install the Ecosia app
- Then, just use the Ecosia app for all of your searches
Option 2 is to make Ecosia the default browser app on your iPhone
- Open the “Settings” app on your phone
- Scroll down to “Ecosia”
- Tap “Default Browser App”
- Select “Ecosia”
- That’s it! You now plant trees by browsing and searching the web
Source: Make Ecosia your default browser on your iPhone
Second, You Can Use Ecosia on Your Computer
If You Use the Chrome Browser
- Open Chrome browser
- Go to ecosia.org
- In the window, click the ‘ADD TO CHROME’ button
- In the pop-up, click ‘Add extension’
- Do your first search in the address bar
- You’ll get the search results from Ecosia.org
- If you get a pop-up asking ‘Is this the search page you were expecting?’
- Just click ‘Keep Changes’
- Then, use Google Chrome for all of your searches, and it will default to the Ecosia search engine.
Source: How do I make Ecosia my default search engine in Chrome?
If You Use Other Web Browsers
You can make Ecosia your default search engine in Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Edge Legacy, or by using the Ecosia extension in Firefox.
You Can Also Set Ecosia Search Engine As Your Web Browser Homepage
You can do this in Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, and Safari.
Third, Track the Number of Trees You’ve Planted
Every time you search, you’ll see a number in the top right of the search window. That’s the number of trees that have been or will be planted because of your searches.
Wondering how your searches can actually plant trees? Well, Ecosia uses the ad revenue from your searches to plant trees where they are needed the most.
Fourth, Find Out Where Ecosia Plants Trees
You can see all the locations that Ecosia plants trees, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, United States, Australia, Spain, Thailand, Philippines, Cameroon, Nigeria, Guatemala, Sudan, Indonesia, Brazil, Senegal, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Nicaragua, Haiti, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Malawi, Tanzania, and Ghana.
You Can Even Look at Ecosia Search Engine Financial Reports
Ecosia publishes their monthly financial reports. They show payments to their partners who plant trees and bring back forests through alternative methods, such as firefighting and natural regeneration.
You’ll see exactly how much money Ecosia made from searches, and what percentage of their revenue went towards trees.
It’s also good to know that Ecosia doesn’t pay out any dividends to its owners. All profits stay within the company, and will eventually be invested or used for tree planting.
You can find all of Ecosia’s financial reports in the Money section of their blog.
Here Is What You Can Do
- Start using Ecosia as your search engine
- Find other ideas to help stop climate change in the Nafford Junction Sustainability Roadmap
- Be inspired. Know that we can reverse climate change if we do something about it
- Talk to your friends and colleagues
- Share this with others
Want to Continue Your Journey?
Where Next?
There is so much inspiring information to give you ideas of how to help climate change by growing, eating, and living sustainably, you can:
- Read Our Articles
- Sign-Up to Our Free Email Newsletter
- Get Started and Vote with Your Money
- Try the Sustainability Roadmap
- Use the Company Directory
- Support Nafford Junction
Help Us Inspire Others
If you are passionate about helping climate change, please consider supporting Nafford Junction, you can:
- Become a Patron to Give Regular Contributions
- Buy Me a Coffee to Make a One-Off Contribution
- Create for Us and Publish Thought Provoking Content
- Become an Inspiring Leader and Advertise with Us
- Go to NaffordJunction.co.uk/support
Sources Used to Create This
- Ecosia – Trees & Privacy – Apps on Google Play
- Google Chrome: Fast & Secure – Apps on Google Play
- Ecosia on the App Store
- Make Ecosia your default browser on your iPhone
- How do I make Ecosia my default search engine in Chrome?
- How do I make Ecosia my default search engine in Edge Chromium?
- How do I make Ecosia my default search engine in Microsoft Edge Legacy?
- Ecosia — The search engine that plants trees – Get this Extension for Firefox
- Set your homepage and startup page – Android – Google Chrome Help
- Change your browser home page
- How to set the home page | Firefox Help
- How do I set Ecosia as my homepage in Safari?
- Where Ecosia plants trees | Projects by country
- Ecosia’s financial reports
Production Notes
This was produced by me, James Walters, as a personal project to help stop climate change by inspiring others to grow, eat, and live sustainably.
Any advice given is the opinion of those involved and does not constitute medical, financial, or legal advice.
* We include links we think you will find useful. If you buy through those links, we may earn a small commission. It’s one way to support our work and to inspire as many people as possible.