Google adds sustainability info to Maps and Search

Google this week introduced several ways for individuals to make sustainable choices, whether lowering their carbon footprint, supporting clean energy, or taking eco-friendly actions.

"When people come to Google Search with questions about climate change, we'll show authoritative information from sources like the United Nations," Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai wrote in a blog announcement. "It's all part of our goal to help 1 billion people make more sustainable choices by 2022."

Travel and Shopping

Just in time for the travel-heavy holiday season, Google is bringing carbon emissions information to its online flight booking service. Enter your trip details and find out which flights offer the best emissions per route; lower CO2-pumping options are highlighted in green.

And, when searching for accommodations, you can find data on hotels' sustainability efforts—from waste reduction and water-conservation measures to whether they're Green Key- or EarthCheck-certified. Unlike the Flights page, though, you'll have to dig a bit deeper: click "Learn more," tap "Overview," and scroll down. Not all hotels provide such details.

"We're also helping people make more sustainable choices when they shop, starting with home appliances," Pichai says. "When you search for energy-intensive products like furnaces, dishwashers, or water heaters, suggestions in the Shopping tab will help narrow your search to cost-effective and sustainable options."

Clean Home Energy 

The electricity powering our homes comes from different sources based on the time of day —typically a mix of clean (solar and wind farms) and fossil fuel-based (gas and coal) energy.

Nest thermostat users, however, can take advantage of Google's new Nest Renew feature, Energy Shift, which automatically converts heating and cooling electricity usage to times when energy is cleaner or less expensive. It can also adjust your thermostat's schedule to run more efficiently in summer and winter.

The basic Nest Renew plan is available for free across the continental U.S. Eco warriors can pay $10 a month for a Renew Premium subscription, which matches your estimated fossil fuel electricity use at home with renewable energy credits from solar and wind plants.

Navigation

Starting today (and in Europe next year), Google Maps will let you choose the most fuel-efficient driving route — if it isn't already the fastest one. The company estimates this could save more than one million tons of annual carbon emissions — "the equivalent of removing over 200,000 cars from the road," according to Pichai. It would also save drivers money by reducing fuel consumption.

"Of course, the most sustainable choice often doesn't involve a car at all," he adds. So a new "lite navigation" cycling option allows riders to quickly see important details about their route without being glued to their screen.

Traffic Efficiency

At the same time, Google is looking for ways to make routes more efficient across an entire city—using artificial intelligence. The company is currently piloting AI predictions to optimize the efficiency of traffic lights in Israel, and plans to expand tests to Rio de Janeiro "and beyond" in the future.

"In all these efforts, our goal is to make the sustainable choice an easier choice," Pichai explains. "At the individual level, these choices may seem small, but when people have the tools to make them at scale, they equal big improvements. We'll need nothing less to avert the worst consequences of climate change, and we'll continue to find ways our products can help."