Google Introduces Sustainable Features for Maps and Search

New Google features help users reduce their carbon footprint and live more sustainable lives by choosing low-carbon travel, products, and home heating.

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Google announced a set of changes to its features that should help its user make more sustainable choices.

According to EcoWatch, the earth-friendly updates affect Maps, Search, Travel, and Nest

Today, climate change is more than a threat. It is a real and present danger. From wildfires to flooding to more frequent and severe storms, climate change is the most profound risk we face, one that affects our health, our economies and our future together on this planet.

Sundar Pichai, Google CEO

As Google Maps are concerned, the default car routes will be the least carbon-intensive ones, when the time difference between routes is insignificant. However, users will still be able to choose the low-carbon route even if it takes much longer.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai says that the feature will have the same impact next year as removing over 200,000 cars from the roads.

Google's sustainable features don’t stop here.

From this week on, if you search for a flight on Google, you’ll also get the carbon dioxide emissions that your journey will produce.

The results will also tell you which aircraft and seats have lower emissions, so you can choose the most sustainable option.

You’re searching for energy-intensive products? From now on, Google will highlight the most sustainable choices.

Finally, users of Google Nest smart thermostat will be able to use a new feature called Nest Renew. This option allows users to activate their heating and cooling at times when more renewable energy is supplying the grid.

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Nikola Gemeš

Nikola, an electrical engineer, simplifies intricate sustainability subjects for his audience. A staunch environmental conservationist, he embodies his beliefs daily through recycling and cultivating his own food.