Google's Guide to a Green Summer

Interesting concept from Google: Mashup map the environmentally friendly places to stay during travels this summer. So far only five cities are up, and only one of the top three sustainable cities (S.F., the excluded being Portland and Seattle). I ran through S.F.'s listing and they're not bad. Not comprehensive by any means, but the highlights are all there. Less meaningful is Las Vegas: I mean, what does the World Series of Poker have to do with "environmentally friendly restaurants"? Similar goofiness pervades L.A.'s listings.

Not ready for prime time, or anywhere close. But a good start nonetheless. More cities are needed, and more comprehensive listings. And like most things on the Web, a knowledgeable human touch is needed to give some intelligence to the bot. But give Google credit, it's pushing things in the right direction.

-- Paul Andrews, GreenforGood