By Kerry TruemanEver wonder how environmentally friendly (or not) the industries in your community might be? Now, you can go to MapEcos.org and find out, thanks to a collaboration between faculty at Duke University, Harvard Business School, and Dartmouth College, as well as some Dartmouth students.The site, which launched today, strives to provide an accurate assessment of toxins in communities all over the country by compiling government data on pollution and additional data the site’s creators have collected themselves directly from industries.The intent of MapEcos is to applaud businesses that have worked hard to reduce their emissions and use of chemicals, while prodding facilities that could be doing better by making information about these industries public.MapEcos’ founders emphasize that their site isn’t looking to be a “tell all” or “gotcha” kind of website:

We also want to help facilities tell their side of the story. Too often people assume that pollution results from ill will or incompetence. In our experience, it is more often the case that people are working hard to make their companies safer, healthier, and cleaner. Many companies have implemented sophisticated management systems to reduce their pollution. We have invited a representative of each facility to tell us about these efforts. Their information will appear on this map in their facility’s “Management” tab should they choose to share this information.

What a clever way to encourage industries to clean up their act. Leave it to a bunch of ivy league, ivory-tower academics to figure out how to inspire businesses to go green.