People tend to think that technology is categorically damaging to the environment. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Although modern industry can harm the planet, technology can also help heal those wounds. Scientists and engineers across the globe are finding new and innovative ways to bring the power of progress to bear on environmental issues. Here are five technologies currently leading the way.
1. Advanced Photovoltaic Cells
Most scientists agree that the world’s addiction to fossil fuels has put everyone in danger. Greenhouse gas emissions threaten to create rapid climate change. Solar energy has emerged as a great success story in the fight for clean energy. Thanks to relentless innovation in the form of efficient photovoltaics and incentives at all levels of government, the national cost of home solar panels has fallen to under $3 per watt.
The digital devices used in business, from smartphones to a mobile power cart, are energy intensive. If a solar recharge is available for all of them, emissions will lessen significantly. Because of their inherent productivity, many businesses are installing solar panels as a matter of course. Look for this trend to accelerate as new inventions like solar glass hit the market in the next few years.
2. Nanoremediation Technologies
Preventing future harm to the environment is necessary. Equally important, though, is healing the damage caused by past indiscretions. Nanotechnology offers a rapid repair for pollution in the form of nanoremediation. Nanoparticles come into contact with contaminants and can then immobilize and remove them. A remediation method using zero-valent iron has already been deployed for groundwater cleanup. One hotly anticipated advancement in nanotechnology will be the creation of autonomous, microscopic nanomachines. These devices would be programmed to encapsulate and remove toxins in situ. The most radical nanotech might be years away, but it’s already making a difference in environmental remediation.
3. Breakthrough Materials Science
Nanoremediation isn’t the only solution offered by nanotechnology and advanced materials science. A powerful example of this is the development of graphene and its spinoffs. Graphene is a one-atom-thick six-sized mesh of pure carbon. It also has nearly 200 times the strength of steel. Some applications of this “wonder material” include fast water desalination, more efficient solar panels, and longer-lasting batteries for electric cars. The full range of potentials and perils of this new material has yet to be understood, but the future seems bright for graphene and similar exotic materials.
4. Carbon Capture Systems
For the time being, fossil fuels are still bound to be important to the world’s energy portfolio. This unfortunate truth means that mitigating the impact of fuel combustion is paramount to stopping and reversing the effects of global warming. Carbon capture and sequestration tools are thankfully becoming more sophisticated. Typically, carbon capture systems are installed directly on power plants. The filtered carbon compounds are then siphoned away in pipelines and sequestered underground.
The latest sequestration technology can pull carbon dioxide directly from the air. The new Climeworks AG facility in Switzerland is expected to harvest 900 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year. Fossil fuels will soon be obsolete, but until then, this technology is bridging the gap between the past and future.
5. Biomimesis and Biophilic Design
Technology and nature are beginning to converge at multiple points. Architecture is one of them. Biomimetics (also known as biomimicry) is a design philosophy that emulates natural processes to make technological processes more efficient and organic. An example of biomimicry is Velcro, inspired by the hooks on bur fruits. Biophilic design, on the other hand, incorporates nature directly into human habitation. Placing air-purifying plant life in offices is one example of this. Another is using natural daylight in workspaces to improve health. Both philosophies focus on re-integrating humanity into nature for the benefit of all.
The creation of high technology doesn’t have to spell doom for the global environment. The solution is to apply human ingenuity to the problem. These technologies are poised to become impactful change agents soon.