When Treehugger, a supporter of all things green, asked whether the flood of green mobile apps are really having much impact, they knew who to come to to get a clear eyed, pragmatic view on what's going on today, and what will be happening tomorrow: Ron Williams, 3rdWhale's President.

Nearly every day, we get news of a new cell phone app that will help us shop for eco-friendly this or that, figure our public transit route for us, help us find recycling outlets, or control the thermostat in our home. There are hundreds of "green" apps, all claiming to make our lives more eco-friendly if we use them. So, are people using them and are they making anyone's life greener? We wanted to check the status of the mobile phone app industry and so asked an expert, Ron Williams, President of 3rdwhale, a green app developer. He fills us in on the efficacy of apps, and their future on our phones.

Ron was clear on what will take green mobile apps beyond novelty and into real world utility:

When you add the location element into the mix, handheld computing has the potential of being far more compelling for the user. You are delivering information to the right person, at the right time, at the right place. Those small but really consequential everyday decisions are made when you are in motion, and mobile phones are always along for the ride.

And he didn't mince words as to what's holding back their potential:

Until Apple changes the system and reorganizes the store, the best selling and most popular apps will continue to be games and gag apps that are often trivial in nature. There is a reason iFart was the #1 app on iTunes.

Read the rest of this thought provoking read here.