Our environment is constantly changing and so
does the need to use resources. Today, Americans consume resources more than
ever before. Americans use up to 27 percent of the world’s resources yet only
make up less than 5 percent of the world’s population (“The State of
Consumption,” 2013). With the continued rate of consumption of resources
from the environment, the resources become depleted. People have started to
consider the earth’s long-term well-being by working to become more
sustainable. In this blog, I will discuss seven innovative technologies that
have been created to help grow sustainable development in the world.
Sustainability and
technology are closely linked. Concerns over the environment could likely be
the result of modern technology; however, a joint study by the MIT and Boston
Consulting Group (2011) found that 70 percent of corporations in the United
States are investing in turning their businesses sustainable. As reported by
Harvard Business Review (2009), tech companies are among the leaders of the
sustainability movement.
In the business of
innovation, several tech companies are committed to sustainability. For
instance, Samsung has created a solar-powered computer, which is a hot
commodity for the energy market with conflicting electricity supplies. With
technology such as solar powered computers, consumers not only save energy, but
invest in the future of how individuals view technology in their life. The
company has also created a series of mobile phones from bio plastic, which is
made out of corn. These mobile phones have energy efficient chargers and come
with full recyclable packaging. This makes a difference for some consumers, as
reported by David Steel, Samsung Executive Vice President of Strategy,
“Consumers take interest in companies and then they see if they do have
specific products that don’t harm the environment,” (Fox, Z., 2011). Samsung and
many other companies are not only looking to develop a sustainable product, but
are searching to develop a sustainable business model.
Companies are
looking more closely into their footprints and impacts, not just by
re-imagining a product but the resources used throughout operations. When a
company ships a package from point A to point B, an aircraft transports it
safely, but air traffic is a major contributor to global climate problems. For
instance, as reported by The New York Times (2013), one round trip from New
York to Europe creates more than 2 tons of carbon dioxide a year. Many tech
companies use resources, energy, and pollute the air we breathe, which may
result in catastrophic difficulties.
According to
Airbus, a leading aircraft manufacturer, in the last 40 years aircraft fuel
burn and CO2 emissions (carbon dioxide) have been cut by more than 70 percent.
With the development of sustainable aviation fuel by Airbus and other
alternative energy such as electricity, hydrogen, and solar power, aircrafts
are minimizing burning fuel and CO2 emissions. When this air fuel is burnt the
emissions are the same as fossil fuels but they release 50 to 80 percent less
CO2 over their entire life cycle. With the development of such technology and
thoughtfulness, this innovation will create clear and clean skies above. As
reported by the Airbus, over 1,500 commercial flights worldwide have been flown
on sustainable aviation fuels to date and air technology companies are working
with other manufacturing companies to make this an industry standard to reduce
costs and have clearer skies, (“Powering future aircraft and infrastructure,”
2016).
According to a
recent report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) (2016), the world’s
capacity to generate electricity from renewable sources has now overtaken coal.
As reported in IEA’s five-year renewable growth forecast, half a million solar
panels were installed every day last year around the world. The expansion of renewable
energy reflects on cost reduction and efficiency improvement. Renewables are
expected to cover more than 60 percent of world’s electricity by 2021 (IEA,
2016). As reported by BBC (2016), renewable energy resources such as wind,
solar, and hydropower are seen as a key element in international efforts to
combat climate change.
PowWow Energy has
also joined the sustainability and innovation movement by creating and
collecting data from assembled smart meters. Its system detects water leaks
from irrigation systems used in agriculture and farms. When leaks appear, the
system sends messages alerting farmers. The solution prevents unnecessary loss
of resources and reduces repair costs. According to this pump monitor project
it will reduce costs and saves unnecessary loss of water.
The Groasis Tech
Waterboxx system helps plants to grow in desert areas and in countries with
limited water resources without using expensive irrigation systems. With this
ecological water saving technology millions of people all around the world can
save water and grow plants. For instance with this technology you can use 1
gallon of water instead of 5, while planting in dry areas. It also helps the
planter save money with eco-restoration. It is a planting technology that helps
farmers to plant in dry places, including deserts and even in rocky areas. This
water saving technology improves the soil using the right primary root; protect
it against heat in the summer and from frost during the winter. According to
Groasis this system is already being used in many places around the world.
Water saving technology is an innovative breakthrough that could save millions
of lives.
It is not only
important for the company’s supply and operations to be efficient but as well
as the company’s facility. In today’s construction business and design all
companies are competing to design up to date buildings with the best views
possible. View Dynamic Glass has created an intelligent window that
automatically tints to maximize natural light and reduce heat. It helps to
produce an energy efficient environment, reduces electric consumption by an
average of 20 percent, (View Dynamic Glass, 2016). It automatically regulates
the temperature and light in the room resulting in high energy-savings.
According to the company’s report, View Dynamic Glass is designed for
commercial buildings to eliminate the need for blinds or shades. This new
design not only saves money and energy, but also creates a unique view and
sustainable design to update buildings.
When companies
think about sustainable efforts, production, operations, and supply are
important but the recent development is on the reuse of products. Each year
humans generate tons of electrical waste such as old computers, phones, media
devices, and so on. Most electronics contain non-biodegradable materials and
heavy materials like cadmium, lead, and mercury. Over time, these toxic
materials can leak into the ground where they can contaminate the water we
drink, the plants we eat, and the animals that live around the area. As
reported by Outerwall on average, Americans replace their cell phones every 22
months, so what happens to all those old devices? Usually individuals put old
electronics either in a drawer or throw them out. EcoATM from Outerwall is changing
the wasteful life cycle with the first automated kiosk that buys back used
consumer electronics directly from consumers. Through simple steps, customers
can recycle old phones, tablets, and other electronics and receive cash back.
To date, this company has recycled more than four million devices. Their
efforts help consumers to get rid of their old devices and save the environment
from chemicals that exist inside electronics (Outerwall 2016).
The use of modern
technology on one hand creates problems; on the other hand it helps us to move
forward. The need for more sustainable technology is more important than ever
before. A sustainable society will only function if it can create and use
resources and technology that could help build a brighter future for the next
generations to come.
Sustainability and
technology have long been reflected in business around the world. People use
technologies on a daily basis, but they consume a lot more resources and power
than they need to, and using and manufacturing them can be expensive and time
consuming. Innovation in sustainability is not only producing a sustainable
product but incorporating supply chain, operations, and the reuse in an effort
to create a smaller footprint.
Even though
progress has been made in innovating sustainable technology it still remains
slow, it will require stronger actions by major powers to combat climate change
and shift the technology toward better and prosperous green development that
could help the next generation.
Reference
10 leading sustainable innovation. (2014).
Guardian. Retrieved from:
https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/gallery/2014/jun/16/10-
leading- sustainability-innovations
EcoATM makes it easy and convenient for people
to recycle their unwanted
devices for cash. (2016). Outerwall. Retrieved
from:
http://www.outerwall.com/brands/ecoatm
Ecosystem restoration was never so fast, easy
and cheap as with the Growboxx.
(2016). Groasis Tech. Retrieved from:
https://www.groasis.com/en
Fox, Z. (2011). 5 Ways Tech Companies Are
Committing to Sustainability.
Mashable. Retrieved from:
http://mashable.com/2011/11/03/tech-
companies-sustainability/#YkOLFU6hPkqk
How Intelligence Works. (2016). View Dynamic
Glass. Retrieved from:
http://viewglass.com/product/
IEA raises its five-year renewable growth
forecasts as 2015 marks record year.
(2016). International Energy Agency. Retrieved
from:
https://www.iea.org/newsroom/news/2016/october/iea-raises-its-five-year-
renewable-growth-forecast-as-2015-marks-record-year.html
Powering future aircraft and infrastructure.
(2016). Airbus. Retrieved from:
http://www.airbus.com/innovation/future-by-airbus/smarter-skies/powering-
future-aircraft-and-infrastructure/
Protect Your Pump. (2016). PowWow Energy.
Retrieved from:
https://www.powwowenergy.com/
Ram Nidumolu, C.K. Prahalad, M.R. Rangaswami,
Why Sustainability Is Now
the Key Driver of Innovation. (2009). Harvard
Business Review. Retrieved from:
https://hbr.org/2009/09/why-sustainability-is-now-the-key-driver-of-
innovation
Renewable energy capacity overtakes coal.
(2016). BBC. Retrieved from:
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-37767250
The State of Consumption Today. (2016).
Worldwatch Institute. Retrieved from:
http://www.worldwatch.org/node/810
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