It is no surprise to anyone that human life is does a lot to alter the environment. Some of these effects are negative. Issues such as global climate change, deforestation, excessive waste, overpopulation, and war are all having a detrimental effect on the planet. However, there are many pieces of technology that are working to alleviate a lot of these concerns. While much damage has already been done, it's still important that new technologies are created to salvage what we have left of the planet for future generations to enjoy.
1. E-Everything
E-books, E-newspaper, E-mail, and E-everything else. Kindles, iPads, and Android tablets have been taking the world by storm. While a lot of people look at these technologies as a luxury and nothing else, it's important to know the environmental factors that these can have on the environment.
For the first time, books, newspapers, mail, and magazines are available at the push of a button. No paper, no hassles. And other than the convenience of these electronic periodicals, they are also saving the environment one tree at a time. In 2008 alone, the publishing industry was responsible for the harvesting of about 125 million trees. Just imagine how many trees would be saved if switching over to E-everything became the standard.
2. Thermal depolymerization
Thermal depolymerization, TDP, is a fascinating way to produce fuel. It mimics the process that brings about fossil fuels. However, it is done much faster and uses carbon-based waste. For those that don't know, carbon-based waste includes just about anything. While there are some limitations, with time, this can be one of the fastest and most efficient ways to get oil.
3. Thin-film Solar Panels
Harnessing solar energy is hardly a brand new idea. Environmental groups and government officials have been pushing for solar panels for years now. However, solar energy has one huge barrier: Price. While solar energy is very useful and attractive, the barrier to entry is too high for a lot of people to handle.
Engineers are trying to fix this by using thin-film solar panels. While these aren't as efficient as their more expensive relative, they are much cheaper and faster to produce. When the technology is advanced, solar power may very well become a standard for businesses and homeowners.
4. Solar Tower
A lot of people don't realize that there is more than one way to get energy from the sun. Your average solar panel converts the suns light into energy. Sun also emits something else: Heat. Already, there are solar towers in Nevada and California that harness this secondary form of energy from the sun.
5. Electric Cars
Most people have heard about electric cars, by now. When electric cars were first starting to get seen on the street, they weren't very attractive to a lot of people. They were ugly. They were tiny. Also, with the low cost of gas, they weren't really necessary. As war in the Middle East broke out and gas prices skyrocketed, that all started to change. People realized that that driving a large SUV just wasn't efficient anymore.
Now, hybrids and electric cars have increased immensely in popularity. The government even offers financial incentives for those making the switch to electric. Electric cars have changed a lot since their inception. They are pretty. They are fast. Most of all, they are efficient. According to scientists, the United States contributes half of the world’s carbon emissions from cars. Electric cars could very well save the world from more damage.
In conclusion, humanity is hard at work to reverse a lot of the damage it caused the environment. With climate change in full force, time is of the essence. The nature-friendly technologies are here, and while a lot of these may be imperfect, it's up to us to continue to improve upon them and eventually adopt them.
Alex Faubel enjoys writing about topics related to business and technology in career-focused education programs.
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