Opportunities in Green Technology

Mankind’s modern lifestyle has caused environmental impact which arises from pollution, consumption, and destruction of natural resources.

This has led to greater awareness of the need for sustainable and environmentally-friendly practices and the emergence of green technologies.

Green technology is one that takes into account the impact an invention has on the environment. Some people refer to green technology as sustainable technology, environmental technology, or clean technology.  Green technologies and practices are those that lessen the environmental impact of a business’s operations. As with any technology, the development of green technology requires investment and initiative to support development projects. It also requires encouraging the whole society to participate in the green technology

Green technology helps to reduce negative effects on the environment while improving productivity, efficiency, and operational performance of a given technology. The main goal of green technologies is to meet the needs of society in the way that avoids depleting or damaging natural resources on earth.

The key components of green technologies are recycling, environmental remediation, and renewable energy sources.

• Recycling: Green technology helps manage and recycle waste material. Recycle of glass, metal, paper, and plastic. These materials are reusable and should be recycled to prevent further depletion of the earth's resources.
•  Environmental Remediation: This involves removing contaminates from the soil, air, and water. It is the removal of pollutants or contaminants for the general protection of the environment.
•  Renewable Energy Sources: Green technology includes the conversion of renewable resources to useful energy.

GOING GREEN

Going green can help us come out of the present tough environmental problem. Easy ways to be greener include:

• Implement recycling in the office
•  Remember: Reduce, reuse, recycle, repair, and think
• If recycling already exists, make sure employees are aware
• Educate employees on what can and cannot be recycled (cardboard, plastics, glass fluorescents, and IT equipment
• Purchase recycled paper
• Install water hippos in toilets (a device that sits in the cistern of the toilet and reduces water used with each flush) or use low-flow toilets
• Encourage employees to carpool or bike to work
• Turn off technology and/or appliances when not in use
• Buy LED, CFL (compact fluorescent bulbs) or other long lasting bulbs
• Try to repurpose old technology
• Have heating and air conditioning on when needed, make sure it’s not going non
• Go paperless
• Do more things electronically (ex: voting, filing taxes, and various tickets, and meetings)
• Ask boss about possibility of distant working
• Get rid of screen savers and allow products to go into sleep mode
• Order things online or walk / bike, instead of using up fuel
• Try to repair technology instead of replacing it entirely
• Buy a hybrid / electric car

Green Energy: This is perhaps the most urgent use of green technology. Currently, non-renewable resources make up 80 percent of the world's energy requirements, but they are not sustainable. Renewable energy sources include water, biomass, wind, solar, and geothermal. For example, a solar cell converts the energy in light into electrical energy. The development of green energy is the highest priority in many scientific endeavors.

Green chemistry: This is also known as sustainable chemistry. It is a philosophy of chemical research and engineering that encourages the design of products and processes that minimize the use and generation of hazardous substances. Green chemistry applies to organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and physical chemistry.

 Green nanotechnology: This is one of the latest in green technologies. Nanotechnology involves the manipulation of materials at the atomic or nano scale. Green nanotechnology is the application green chemistry and green engineering principles to nanotechnology. Materials are manipulated in ways that will transform the manufacturing industry.

Green Buildings: The main benefit of building green is reducing a building’s impact on the environment and significantly improving building performance. Using green technologies in building construction not only benefits the environment, but they can produce economically attractive buildings that are healthier for the occupants as well. Using green roof improved the energy  performance of buildings because they provide higher thermal inertia, shading, and absorption of solar energy. Green buildings have the potential to substantially reduce energy consumption.

Other applications of green technology include water and waste management, green IT, green

manufacturing, green business, green economics, green marketing, green supply chain, green logistics, transportation, smart grid, agriculture, construction industry, and water supply.

The disadvantages of green technology include:

1. High implementing costs

2. Lack of information

3. No known alternative chemical or raw material inputs

4. No known alternative process technology

5. Uncertainty about performance impacts

6. Lack of human resources and skills

BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES

The most important benefit in applying green technology is enhancing the quality of life by ensuring a more sustainable environment. Other benefits green technology include recycling waste material, purifying of water, purifying the air, conserving energy, and rejuvenating ecosystems. Adoption green technology can enhance a company’s environmental reputation. Green technology is one of the fastest growing employment sectors. Jobs available for those who are passionate about conserving the environment.

Selling green technologies has not been easy because it requires new paradigm of appreciation: cause consequence, cost benefit, etc. No change comes without some pain. A monopoly may continue to use a dirty production technology over a known, socially superior green technology.

Living a greener life will eventually become our way of living better life.  Companies in all major technologies will have to develop their own green business model to cope with social responsibility.   If you involve in green technology and look for ways to promote, Micro News Site will help you to distribute free PR news in our multi-national channels.  Contact us for details!