Code for Japan is a civic tech organization that collaborates with local governments to improve community services. We developed Jibungoto Planet, an open-source carbon footprint web application with the National Institute for Environmental Studies to raise awareness about climate change.
The app's source code is publicly available, allowing anyone to start their own project using it. It is available only in Japanese.
When this project began, there were already other services in the market that needed to be tailored to the needs of the Japanese. Despite the term “Decarbonization” starting to become more widely known, it was still far from people's daily lives.
The toughest challenge was that we couldn't include a login feature due to security reasons, so users couldn't retrieve their old results. Additionally, there were limited resources, so some desired features had to be set aside.
Ongoing
Phase 1: Launched August 2022
I compiled a list of similar services, noted each one’s characteristics, features, and differences, and then installed a few mobile apps for testing purposes. Took screenshots of screens for each app and gathered all the information in one place. Design research is a critical tool which is essential for the start of any project.
Most apps work together with an environmental conservation organization, an individual can promote decarbonization. Through a series of questions, it is possible to calculate an individual’s carbon footprint. As part of the decarbonization effort, the individual can donate to an environmental conservation group dedicated to preserving forests or using renewable energy sources.
GPS has been implemented to measure travel distances and provide daily feedback to users about their mode of transportation. This data can then be used to give personalized advice on reducing their carbon footprint.
About 20 services in Japan and oversea
To ensure success, it is essential to determine the user’s needs in order to create a streamlined experience. The project's aim can be accomplished when users are content with the process. Instead of using login credentials, we used cookies to store a user’s history. This allows a user to start the service from the same page, even after restarting it.
<aside> ✅ Anyone can use the service with no account
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<aside> ✅ Enjoying privacy and not having to disclose confidential information
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<aside> ❌ Delete cookies and the history disappears
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<aside> ❌ Cookies are not effective for cross platforms
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<aside> ❌ Difficult to provide personalized suggestion
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<aside> 💡 To be completed in a single access
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The interface of this app is straightforward, with no extra navigation or other options. It focuses on offering the user a single task, which is to calculate their carbon footprint. This is done by answering various questions, and the user can move on.
The primary purpose of this service is to raise awareness of individuals’ carbon footprints. Our top priority was to make sure users understand their current output, and the design of the flow is aimed at exposing the largest number of people to the service.
