All you need to know about Google updates aiming to promote sustainable living

Google has launched a series of updates aimed at assisting individuals and organizations in adopting more sustainable practices. The tech giant's ambitious initiative encompasses enhanced search results for electric vehicle (EV) shoppers, expanded AI tools for climate predictions, and several other green-focused features.

Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted the significance of addressing climate change as humanity's 'next big moonshot,' emphasising the need to answer substantial questions to mitigate its impact effectively.

EV search results

For individuals contemplating the switch to electric vehicles, Google's updated search results now include information on potential government incentives. This feature aids consumers in determining whether their desired vehicle qualifies for discounts. The improved search results are already live in the US, with plans to extend to France and Germany later this year.

EV owners will benefit from additional details about battery range, enabling them to customize routes based on elevation changes and speed limits. This feature, known as the battery range explorer, is set to launch in Europe early next year.

To address the challenge of accurately estimating battery range in EVs, Google is leveraging data from the Knowledge Graph and the EPA, offering users comprehensive and reliable information.

Cycling and transit enhancements

Google is collaborating with local governments to update cycling routes in Google Maps, including hundreds of kilometers of new bike lanes in collaboration with Transport for London. This aligns with Google's broader initiative to provide better multimodal directions, covering cycling, transit, and walking.

In aviation, Google's sustainable aviation project has expanded its partnership to include Eurocontrol, advising pilots on more sustainable flight routes to reduce contrails and emissions.

Project Green Light

Project Green Light, Google's AI-driven effort to make traffic lights more efficient, is expanding to over a dozen cities worldwide, including Rio de Janeiro, Manchester, Jakarta, and Budapest. The initiative aims to decrease carbon emissions associated with stop-and-go traffic by reducing stops at intersections.

Sustainable home improvements

Google now provides more information about sustainable energy devices when users search for appliances like heat pumps and air conditioning units. Search results include details on capabilities, energy efficiency, and government incentives. This information is sourced from reputable organisations like the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star and energy.gov in the US.

Urban planning

Google Earth is being updated to assist urban planners in incorporating solar energy into development plans, while the "cool roofs" tool, using AI and aerial imagery, expands to include more cities. These tools aim to optimize solar reflectivity and identify areas that most benefit from sustainable solutions.

Disaster warnings

As natural disasters intensify, Google is expanding its Flood Hub tool to the US and Canada, covering 800 riverside locations where around 12 million people reside. Google's real-time wildfire boundary maps are being updated in collaboration with the US Forest Service, incorporating machine learning for more accurate fire spread modeling. The 'tree canopy' tool uses AI to help cities plan for tree coverage and is expanding to 2,000 additional cities globally to mitigate heat-related challenges.

AI's climate impact and future growth

Google emphasised its commitment to sustainability by addressing concerns about the climate impact of AI. Chief Sustainability Officer Kate Brandt highlighted efforts to use more efficient tensor processing units (TPUs) and redesign data centers for energy efficiency.

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