Travel sustainably the Google way by Shana Jones
Tech giant Google is no stranger to the forefront of things and its presence in the global push for climate action affirms this . In 2017 , it became the first major company to achieve carbon neutrality and is currently the largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy worldwide . In late 2021 , the company extended its sustainability efforts into the travel arena and now products such as Google Flights and Google Maps provide climateconscious travelers with practical , up-to-date information for greener , more sustainable travel experiences .
“ Emission ” the possibilities !
While traditional airline travel websites provide route searches based on price , duration and date , Google Flights adds carbon emissions to the mix . Filtering by carbon emissions ranks the flights for a selected route by emissions or shows only low-emissions flights . In both cases , the traveler can compare the carbon emissions on the selected flight route with that of a similar typical route , instantly seeing its environmental impact . The
emissions estimates are based on 2019 data from the European Environmental Agency ( EEA ).
The hotel is greener on the other side of the fence
This is definitely the case if a
Google Travel search brings up a hotel with a green eco-certified badge . It means that the hotel , according to any of a number of
globally-recognized certifying bodies , has been audited and officially recognized for its efforts in water conservation , sustainable sourcing of local food , beverages , etc ., energy efficiency , and waste reduction ( details can be found on the hotel ’ s information page ). Hotels that practice sustainability but that aren ’ t eco-certified can also provide details of their efforts for discerning travelers .
Petrol and hybrids and EV ’ s – oh my !
With the ever-increasing price of gas , finding fuel-efficient routes translates into a win-win for travelers and the environment . Enabling the eco-friendly routing option in Google Maps allows users in the United States , Canada and Europe to see both the fastest and the most fuel-efficient routes based on their car engine type ( gas / diesel , hybrid , or electric ). The fuel savings and arrival times on both routes are derived from information from the U . S . Department of Energy ’ s National Renewable Energy Lab and the EEA .
Green is for “ GO ”
The initiatives don ’ t stop at green routes , hotels , and flights , though . Google Maps supports
other ecofriendly options , such as turn-by-turn directions for pedestrians overlaid on walking routes ; nearest EV charging stations and useful tips like charging time and port availability ; real-time arrival / departure / delay and wheelchair accessibility information for public transit routes ; increased cycling route information ; and vehicle availability for bike and scooter shares for over 300 cities worldwide .
Google continues to aggressively pursue its bold ambition to empower one billion people this year by
“ making the sustainable choice an easier choice ”. Those not traveling can use its other products to search for the most climate-friendly vehicles and appliances or shop for pre-owned clothes ( clothing contributes 10 % of global carbon emissions ). Soon , it will even be possible to check the environmental impact of ingredients in
select recipes !
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