The Smog Free Project by DaanRoosegarde seeks to achieve a complex goal, but one that has never been more vital: to reduce air pollution and provide an experience of a clean future.[1] How does it plan to do it? With a series of urban innovations such as the Smog free tower, the world’s first smog vacuum cleaner. Measuring 23 feet in height, the tower sucks in polluted air and cleans it through a process of ionization. The project has already been launched in China, South Korea, Netherlands and few other countries. Closer home, IIT Bombay is overseeing the establishment of a similar smog tower project in Delhi.[2]
These are just few examples of enterprises, individuals and institutions coming up with innovative solutions that tackles the present-day challenges plaguing the world and lead the path to a green future. Sustainability has become the top priority. Food wastage, plastics in the ocean, air pollution and global warming are some of the significant concerns that companies can address with green technology.
Global investment in technology has been increasing by 20% over the last few years.[3] From small businesses to manufacturing giants, green technology has taken the center seat in both small and large scale discussions. Businesses are not only focusing on technological innovation for the pressing environmental problems but also looking at reducing their own carbon footprint by adopting sustainable business plans.
Here’s a quick look at the top technological innovation that will shape the future sustainability agenda.
Public energy transport: Transportation accounts for almost a quarter of the global carbon emission.[4] In such a scenario, electric vehicles (EV) will play a vital role in crafting a greener future. Beyond making transportation sustainable, EV development can lead to innovative solutions to battery storage, specifically the lithium-ion battery. This will lead to lesser dependence on fossil fuels. In addition, countries with high rates of car ownership can contribute to quicker adoption of EVs.
Plastic recycling: 300 million tons of plastic is produced every year, 50% of which is for single-use purposes.[5] If that seems like an unbelievable quantity, then it is. Plastic industry has the opportunity to revamp the business model and aim at eliminating waste across sectors. The process of pyrolysis can reconvert plastic waste back into liquid feedstock. Another extremely promising alternative is to turn the non-recyclable waste to fuel.
LED lights: Unlike the incandescent lighting which waste 98% of the energy, LED (Light-emitting diode) lighting are more energy efficient and durable as it converts most of the energy into light. The overall demand for lighting is projected to go up in the coming years. Besides aiding in cost savings for enterprises and individual, LED lights are also durable. Adding all these factors will make it an attractive option while helping the environment.
Solar power: An increasing number of countries are recognising the significance of renewable energy in creating a clean and safe environment for the future generation. While solar power and its uses are not new to us, it is getting a fresh impetus with more and more investments being done by organisations. This is also a viable alternative in bringing electricity to the unelectrified population.
Innovative digital transformation
The era of green tech is on the rise and companies are complimenting it with innovations in the digital front. The integration of both will put a renewed focus on the development of new technologies, like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), internet of things (IoT), predictive analytics and others. These technological breakthroughs have been the key to analysing complex data for sustainable decision making in areas of climate change, air and water pollution, biodiversity conservation, disaster preparedness, etc.
Numerous companies are tapping into the potential of new technologies to address wider social problems. Hitachi’s GeoMation crunches satellite data to provide the optimal time for the harvest of wheat and rice. Similarly, Microsoft’s AI for Earth provides a network of data and tools to solve global environmental challenges.
As we move ahead, more and more companies will focus on sustainable solutions and implement green innovations. The future of green technology shines bright with innovations expected to change the way we do things and interact with our surroundings.
[1] https://www.studioroosegaarde.net/project/smog-free-tower
[2] https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/iit-mumbai-to-oversee-smog-tower-project-in-the-capital-centre-tells-sc/article32273397.ece
[3] https://soulfulconcepts.com/index.php/2017/05/05/the-future-of-green-technology/
[4] https://science.sciencemag.org/content/350/6263/911.full
[5] https://plasticoceans.org/the-facts/#:~:text=The%20Facts%20Are%20Overwhelming&text=We%20are%20producing%20over%20300,into%20our%20oceans%20every%20year.