Google is continually developing tools and services to help our users “go green.”
We've developed a
Google Desktop gadget for Windows XP and Vista that helps you save energy by minimizing your PC's power consumption when it's not actively in use. The
Energy Saver gadget will automatically enable and optimize your Windows power settings to EPA recommended standards. It will also show you how much energy you've saved – and how much energy everyone who is using the gadget has saved collectively. All you need to do is make sure you have Google Desktop up and running and then
install the Energy Saver gadget.
You've got to get someplace - the airport, out to dinner, work - and you want to do your part to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Check out the
transit trip planning or the
walking directions features of
Google Maps. The transit planner uses all available public transportation schedules to plot out the most efficient possible step-by-step itinerary.
You can use Google Maps to organize your very own green events. In October 2007, for example, we virtually hosted an International Clean Up Weekend and invited people around the world to create their own local cleanups with family and friends.
Our users have also applied Google Maps technology to create various environmental “mashups” that demonstrate effects of the climate crisis. For instance, you can view a map that shows where coastal flooding would occur with various changes in sea levels or explore climate data for cities around the world.
Finally, if you live in the United Kingdom, you can install a personalized carbon calculator right on your iGoogle homepage. This tool uses Google Maps technology to help you to calculate, track, compare and update your very own carbon footprint.
Google Earth's satellite imagery, terrain, and 3D buildings bring you cutting-edge information on world geography – including the geographic impact of climate change. For example, the United Nations Environment Program has created the "Atlas of our Changing Environment" to show pictures, such as the deforestation in Brazil or the shrinking of Lake Chad in Africa. Or check out the layer created by NRDC and Audubon that aggregates sensitive areas to make it easier for renewable energy developers to find optimal places to site clean energy projects.
And while you're exploring Earth, be sure to check out some of the latest Global Awareness layers (found in the left-side "Layers" panel) that celebrate the beauty and biodiversity on Earth, like ARKive's Endangered Species and Greenpeace's Stop Climate Change. We also encourage you to visit the Google Earth Outreach Showcase, which features a number of environmentally-focused KMLs that can be downloaded and viewed in Google Earth.
