Google cooks up eco mash-up

Google has launched its first mash-up - a map-based website with information about earth-friendly locations in five of the US' top travel destinations.

The site, at maps.google.com/green, features information on and video tours of spots in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando and San Francisco as well as tips for "travelling green" during the summer using Google Maps.

Luanne Calvert, creative director at Google, said on Tuesday: "This is important to us. One of the big objectives for Google as a corporation is to promote environmental protection."

Listings include the Las Vegas Natural History Museum and the Go Raw Cafe in Las Vegas; the Tree People park and EcoLimo in Los Angeles; the Skyscraper Museum and Central Park in New York; the Forever Florida nature preserve and Horse World Riding Stables in Orlando; and the Red Victorian Bed and Breakfast and the Exploratorium in San Francisco.

The Earth Day Network, which sponsors Earth Day every May, recommended the locations listed. Additional listings, cities and countries will be added in the future.

Calvert said: "The goal is to have everyone using Google Maps to get around this summer. The motto is Green not Grim... green can be fun."

By "green" Google means "things that are earth friendly", Calvert said. That includes "restaurants that are about sustainable living" and "a car service in New York that only uses [gas-electric hybrid] Prius vehicles," she said.

Elinor Mills writes for CNET News.com