ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION challenges that include; CLIMATE CHANGE, DEPLETION of natural resources and POLLUTION of the environment. The issue is that technological growth helped us to receive a great number of the modern inventions which can reduce the effect of the aforementioned troubles and build the future for our planet. Some of these sustainable technologies will be discussed in this article so as to illustrate how they can be used to improve the society.
1. Solar Energy
Solar power is one of the biggest inventions under sustainable technologies with a chance of revolutionising the method of producing and consuming electricity. Whether it is photovoltaic ‘PV‘ panels that soak up sunlight and turn it into electricity or concentrated solar power ‘CSP‘ systems that couple lenses and mirrors to one another in order to focus solar energy into a heat receiver, the technology is doing the same thing: converting solar energy into electricity.
Benefits of solar energy
– Renewable: The sun is the source of solar energy and energy from the sun will never be depleted.
– Environmentally-friendly: Solar energy does not emit anything into the atmosphere hence cutting on air pollution and normally plays its part in mitigating climate variations.
– Cost-effective: Solar panel installation isn’t cheap, but it’s not only one of the most effective ways to someday save money on energy bills, it’s also one that is benefitting the environment as well.
2. Electric Vehicles
Transportation is a source of emissions and therefore electric vehicles or EVs form a part of sustainable technology. The use of EVs has no emissions which means no emission of gases in the atmosphere hence the effect of climate change is checked.
Benefits of electric vehicles
– Environmentally-friendly: The emissions are nil, hence no pollution of the environment as well as they have a minimum carbon footprint.
– Cost-effective: Another key advantage of using EV is that since the electricity is relatively cheaper than gasoline, running an EV is cheaper.
– Improved performance: Electric motors enable devices to attain torque immediately, resulting not only in faster acceleration rates, but also considerably more likely smooth rides relative to internal combustion engines.
3. Smart Cities
Smart city comprises of a technological integration that incorporates the aspects of maximum utilization of energy, minimal waste and the comfort of the people in the city. High technology applications such as IoT and big data analytics and renewable energy are a necessity in smart cities development.
Benefits of smart cities
– Energy efficiency: Smart cities integrate technology in their systems of devices as well as structures with the aim of attaining efficient energy utilization and conservation, disposal of wastewater, and self-generation of energy with the utilization of raw materials from renewable sources.
– Improved urban planning: Social media data analysis can also be used in decision making of developing infrastructures, the usage of the land and even transport planning.
– Enhanced public services: Smart cities can include quality schemes to supply public services that are effective and convenient to use by the population.
4. Vertical Farming
Hydroponics, aeroponics and aquaponics are grouped under vertical farming which is a sustainable technology innovation that relates to growing crops. This method also has a lesser requirement on the use of land, water and pesticides hence a sustainable agriculture system.
Benefits of vertical farming
– Resource-efficient: Vertical farming consumes only 10% of water, 5% of land, and it does not use pesticides like traditional farming.
– Fresh produce: The food crops produced in vertical structures are grown all year round, this means a steady supply of fresh produce.
– Reduced transportation costs: Urban vertical farms can break the cycle of excessively long food transportation processes and cut on the carbon footprints as well.
5. Biodegradable Plastics
Whereas the problem of the plastics’ pollution keeps rising, out of which is disastrous to the environment and especially wild animals, plastic degradable plastics have come in to provide a solution. They are derived from renewable resources like cornstarch, sugarcane or any material gotten from plant products and can easily be disposed onto the environment.
Benefits of biodegradable plastics
– Reduced pollution: Good quality biodegradable plastics also have a shorter period of durability, and dissolve in environments without causing havoc to ecosystems and creatures within it.
– Lower carbon footprint: Biodegradable products come from plant-based materials that actively contribute to capturing carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere during the plants’ growth.
– Versatile: Polybiodegradable products are versatile and can be used in packaging, disposable household wears, clothing materials and many others.
6. Sustainable Fashion
The clothing industry is one of the biggest culprits responsible for water pollution all over the world, as well as emissions of carbon, and deforestation. Sustainable fashion aims at solving these problems by using environmentally friendly fabrics, environmentally friendly production methods and circular designing.
Benefits of sustainable fashion
– Reduced waste: The product development of sustainable fashion is in the scope of consideration, backed by new and renewable raw materials and effective waste management systems.
– Improved working conditions: Sustainable fashion brands normally have good practices on how garment workers should be treated while at work.
– Eco-friendly materials: Sustainable fashion includes materials such as recycled polyester, organic cotton, and Tencel; that decrease the effect of the industry on the environment.
7. Green Building
Green building can be defined as the practice of designing, constructing and maintaining buildings in ways that reduce their impact on the environment and enhancing the health of the people using those buildings. Key to its achievement are technological stringByAppendingString?sustainable such as green roof technologies, efficient heating and cooling systems, and passive solar technologies.
Benefits of green buildings
– Energy efficiency: Energy and water consumed by green buildings are less than those consumed by non green buildings thereby making the green building carbon footprint and cost friendly.
– Enhanced indoor air quality: Healthy indoor environment includes reduction in draught, ventilation, exposure of occupants to pollutants and allergens in green buildings.
– Biodiversity: Promoting local compiled biodiversity in fitting natural systems can also be helped by the green roofs and vertical gardens as they too, provide space for the plants and animals to live unhindered.
Conclusion
Green technologies are promising for developing efficacious solutions to prevent environmental catastrophes. Be it solar energy and electric cars, smart cities and green building they find solutions to some of the most important problems that are confronting the world today.
These sustainable technologies will also provide for man a better life for himself and a better world for the generation yet unborn. For sustainable technology solutions to be adopted across all facets of society, grey, actors must collaborate and ensure that they create affordable technological solutions.
Finally, sustainable tech investment is very essential for environment preservation and economic development, job opportunities and improvement in human quality of life. These are the new possibilities that should be further developed to create the sustainable world on our beautiful planet.
