The company has set up new features so that people can make “green” decisions and join the fight against climate change.
Do you want to lead a more sustainable life? This big tech company can help. (Photo: iStock)
The world is headed for unpredictable climate scenarios in which rain, drought, hurricanes, and forest fires will affect an increasing number of people.
Tech giants know they can make substantial changes so that at least 1 billion people make more sustainable choices.
As a company, Google has set out to run on electricity from clean sources by 2030 and to operate on clean energy 365 days a year. They also have new features for their users. We introduce them to you here.
Also read: Code Red: five scenarios set out the planet’s future
Each and every one of our actions has an environmental impact. Millions of us search on YouTube or Google, send emails, make video calls, or store information in the cloud. Without meaning to, we contribute to global warming.
When people ask Google about climate change, reliable sources and information are shown that lead to the United Nations.
“It’s all part of our goal to help one billion people make more sustainable choices by 2022,” explains Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet.
When you search for a flight on Google Flights, options for dates and seats with lower carbon emissions are displayed in the results, next to the price and duration of the flight. Now, there’ll be one more thing to contemplate.
Low-emission flights are labeled with a green badge and can be prioritized for subsequent searches.
These estimates take into account data from the European Environmental Agency, with information on aircraft type, travel distance, seat class, and number of seats.
A feature was also enabled in their hotel finder that shows places with waste reduction or water conservation initiatives, or whether they have certifications such as Green Key and EarthCheck.
Are you planning on buying a new heater? How about buying one that requires less energy?
When searching for products that consume a lot of energy, such as ovens, dishwashers, or water heaters, the Shopping tab suggestions will help narrow your search down to cost-effective and sustainable options.
Privately-owned cars emit 75% of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide in the transport sector. According to the United States International Energy Agency, they’re one of the world’s biggest polluters.
Thanks to artificial intelligence and collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, Google Maps will show the most fuel-efficient route (and the fastest).
This option is only available in the United States and will be available in Europe in 2022.
Google estimates that more than 1 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions will be saved per year, the equivalent of taking 200,000 cars off the road, and users will save fuel.
In recent years, Maps has shown routes with designated bike lanes as a sustainable mobility option that’s being given greater weight in cities all around the world.
But when cyclists are riding, they’re not looking at their phones, which is why Maps will implement a feature called lite navigation in the coming months, in which users can quickly glance at important details about their route without having to keep their eyes on the screen.
In over 300 cities around the world, you can find bike-and-scooter-share stations on iOS and Android devices, as well as see if there is a place to park. All this is on Google Maps.
This expansion has been made possible thanks to micro mobility partnerships with Donkey Republic, Tier, and Voi base in Europe, as well as Bird and Spin in the U.S.
Artificial intelligence is a great ally in the fight against climate change, and the optimization of traffic lights is seen as one of multiple options to achieving greener routes.
Research is being piloted in Israel to predict traffic conditions and how they improve when traffic lights change.
“So far, we’re seeing a 10-20% reduction in fuel consumption and delay time at intersections. We’re excited to expand these pilots to Rio de Janeiro and beyond,” they say in their statement.
It’s a fact that companies need to safely store data in the cloud, and at the same time have a lower environmental impact. Google Cloud has launched tools to help companies choose cleaner regions to locate their Cloud resources.
Companies such as Whirlpool, Etsy, HSBC, Unilever, and Salesforce are trying out these solutions.
Households have one of the highest energy demands. Google’s Nest thermostats are known for maximizing energy savings when it comes to heating or cooling an environment.
The next step is their new Nest Renew service with its Energy Shift feature that can help users automatically shift electricity usage for heating and cooling to times when energy is cleaner or less expensive (this applies in the United States).
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the main focus for keeping the temperature increase below 1.5 degrees Celsius and avoiding climate catastrophe.
Facing climate change is a topic that involves us all. With these options, you can join this urgent and necessary cause.
