In this article, we discussed the meaning of green tech innovation, and the green technology innovations and initiatives that are making real difference.
Definition
Green technology innovation is the development of new or improved methods and techniques that use environmentally friendly processes and materials to reduce the negative impact on the planet.
Green tech is the use of science and technology to develop eco-friendly products and services that protect our environment. It includes renewable energy, sustainable transportation, waste management and recycling, energy efficiency solutions, all helping us move towards a more sustainable future.
Understanding green technology requires an appreciation for its complicated nature and its critical role in promoting sustainability. Green technology, also known as environmental technology or eco-technology, focuses on creating products and services that preserve natural resources, reduce environmental impact, and promote ecological balance. It encompasses a range of innovations from renewable energy systems to sustainable construction practices.
Top Green Technology Innovations making a real difference
Biomimicry
Mimicking plants and the natural environment are a method of sustainability that is only dreamt of. Scientists are working to capture the regenerative functions of plants and animals, similar to healing a wound or sealing a cut made when pruning a plant. This technology could be used in fibers to enable cuts to patch up minor holes and tears.
Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS)
Trees and other plants are great at capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and using them for photosynthesis. Unfortunately, there are not enough of them to handle the job due to rapid deforestation. We’re also not planting fast enough to replenish the forests we have lost.
Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technology is one of the best solutions to plug this gap. The idea is to capture carbon dioxide emissions from industrial facilities and either reuse or store them for later use. Various products can be derived from recaptured carbon, including concrete and carbon fiber.
Molten salt energy storage is an example of Green Technology Innovations
Heat is one way in which energy can be stored, meeting a gap in the energy sector that must be filled to reach a renewable energy future. It has been noticed that salt has particularly good characteristics for heat storage, making it a great base for capturing and holding energy.
Artificial photosynthesis is a Green Technology Innovations
Speaking of mimicking plants, scientists and technologists are working together to imitator the effects of photosynthesis through technology. The solutions are expected to amalgamate both sunlight and carbon dioxide to create usable energy—a form of carbon capture that will provide further resources.
Green Architecture/Building
Green architecture or buildings is one of the solutions that the building sector has developed to tackle the carbon emissions and resource use of buildings throughout their lifecycle. This approach to building design focuses on using sustainable materials, reducing waste, and creating energy-efficient and healthy spaces for occupants.
It integrates high-performance windows, extra insulation, onsite generation of renewable energy, rainwater collectors, and other sustainable additions to build environments, reducing their impact.
Electric Vehicles
Since the 1990s, the transportation sector has been the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 28 percent of total GHG emissions. These emissions are evaluated based on three categories: tailpipe, well-to-wheel, and cradle-to-grave.
All-electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are seen as the best solution to reduce the carbon footprint of conventional transportation systems and mitigate the effects of climate change. As they run on electricity, electric vehicles produce less to zero tailpipe emissions compared to their gasoline-powered counterparts.
Smart meters
While they don’t actively reduce emissions, smart meters installed in homes allowed consumers to reduce their energy consumption, which is an indirect way of reducing overall housing emissions. Individuals are able to save on their household bills while companies have more energy in the pipeline to supply to other buildings.
Nuclear energy technology
Although controversial based on its potential to disorder cities (an example being the Chernobyl nuclear reactor), technology is being developed to make the most of nuclear materials to produce clean energy at scale. Current technicians are only able to utilize atomic number 92 supplies to around 1% of their full potential, making nuclear a contender for widespread green energy.
Renewable Energy Sources
Solar and wind power are two of the most common and inexpensive options. Solar panels, in particular, are now produced on a mass scale, making them accessible to consumers. Geothermal, tidal, hydropower, and biomass are other renewable sources that are proven equally effective in producing energy but are yet to be implemented at scale.
Waste-water electricity generator
The circular economy can be applied beyond recycling man-made materials. Oregon State University developed a hybrid electricity generator, which uses microbial fuel cells and reverse electrodialysis. These technologies combined enable the use of waste water to create electricity. Alongside the solutions contribution to mains grid power generation, the technology is also capable of powering the treatment of water as it comes full circle.
Plant-Based Packaging
Plastic packaging impacts the environment at every stage of its life cycle. From the extraction and transportation of its building blocks, fossil fuels, to its end of life which often results in landfill disposal or incineration, plastic packaging emits significant amounts of GHGs and causes deforestation and pollution.
Plant-based packaging is a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging. They are made from organic matter and sustainable plant sources such as mushrooms, sugarcane, rice husk, bamboo, and seaweed, making them biodegradable and compostable.
Conclusion
There are many sources of environmental problems today, but so are the technologies available to us to address them. The different innovation and initiatives we outlined above are just some of those green technologies offering promising, long-term solutions and inspiring a broader conversation on their role in achieving our climate targets faster.
READ: Philosophy of Technology