You hear about it all the time. To avoid climate catastrophe in the not-so-distant future, we need to act now. It often feels like these warnings go unheeded. Crowded highways. New oil pipelines. Rainforests growing skinnier by the second.
But amongst all the bad news, there are impactful sustainability developments that are taking place every single day. Good intentions and concrete actions can help make a difference. However, human effort alone won’t be enough to change the course of global warming.
That’s why scientists and statisticians around the world are working hard to develop exciting new technology that will help sustain the environment. In this article, we take a look at just some of the many innovations that may have a major impact in the next several decades.
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is one of the most important components of moving toward a greener future. All of the recycling in the world can only take us so far if we are still relying on fossil fuels for all of our daily needs.
Renewable energy has existed in the form of wind and solar power (among other things) for quite some time. However, accessibility is only now becoming prolific enough for renewable energy sources to enter into everyday life. Solar panels, for example, now cost somewhere in the low five-figure range for the average home. Particularly after all available government grants and subsidies have been taken advantage of.
This number is certainly nothing to sneeze at, but it does make the technology more accessible to the average person. Particularly to people who are considering the issue as a long-term value proposition. A good set of electric panels turns your energy bill into a negligible cost. This means that, in addition to cutting back on your carbon footprint, you’re also in a position to save money on your bills in the long run.
What’s perhaps even more interesting, however, is what renewable energy resources have done to commerce. There are now businesses, such as IKEA, that have drifted into carbon neutrality. That’s to say that the existence of their stores and warehouses is not adding any carbon at all into the atmosphere.
They accomplish this through panels, wind power, and carbon offsets (a slightly dicier proposition, we grant you, but still better than nothing).
Through sustainability technology, consumers now have more options. If they want to support businesses that prioritize sustainability the same way they do, they need only to spend a few minutes on Google to find out where to shop.
Electric Cars
It’s incredible to consider the trajectory of electric cars. The technology has been discussed and worked on for decades. Only in the last few years, however, has it become accessible to the average buyer. But now, with most manufacturers having electric options, many of which are available for $30k or less new, it’s possible for many buyers to consider electric for their next purchase.
Even the Ford F150, America’s most popular car, is moving toward electric. What does this mean? Well, for one thing, it puts the planet on a path toward eliminating one of the number one sources of carbon emissions.
Some states, like California, have gone so far as to create mandates as to when in-state car sales need to be one hundred percent electric.
Equally important, however, is the proliferation of the technology that makes these vehicles practical. Even people with good intentions have been slightly hesitant to adopt electric vehicles in the past. Sure, I want to be eco-friendly, but I also like car trips. How am I supposed to drive to California from Illinois in an electric car?
Well, now there is an answer: Conveniently located charging stations. As electric vehicle technology expands, so does the infrastructure required to support it. Once very rare, charging stations are now available in most parts of the country, making electric vehicles an increasingly more accessible means of transportation.
Robot Jellyfish
It sounds made up, doesn’t it? But it’s real. Made of a soft rubber material produced by 3D printers, robot jellyfish have recently been deployed to help investigate the coral reefs and look for opportunities to improve their health.
Robotic swimming devices have been in circulation for decades, but this newest iteration dramatically enhances maneuverability by taking its design after jellyfish. They are flexible, environmentally friendly, and effective in terms of helping scientists improve the health of our oceans.
This is good not just for the coral reefs, but also for land animals. The oceans play an enormous role in helping to slow down global warming by absorbing up to 30% of all carbon emissions. The healthier our oceans are, the better equipped they will be to perform this tremendously important job.
Solar Glass
Solar glass is a material that is transparent just like window glass, but able to absorb sunlight and turn it into energy. It’s a technology that is getting a lot of buzz in sustainability circles. For good reason. It sounds like something out of a science fiction novel.
Unfortunately, it may be a while before this technology arrives at the consumer scale. Scientists are still struggling to create the optimal combination of transparency and efficiency. Still, it’s something to look forward to.
Lab Grown Meat
Meat production is completely disastrous from an environmental perspective. The ratio of land, water, and energy used to produce meat are way out of disproportion to the energy — in this case, calories —being created.
A plant-based diet gives you much more bang for your buck where energy is concerned. But what if you could have both?
Lab-grown meat promises carnivores the best of both worlds. The tastes they love, with none of the ethical concerns. Scientists are working on developing products that use actual animal cells to produce meat that was never actually alive.
For right now, this technology is still in the “science fair,” stage of development. However, there are still good plant-based meat options that can be purchased at most grocery stores, and even some fast food restaurants.
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