Current environmental innovations

Courtesy of TED talks on YouTube. This video showcases Bill Gates' opinion on what we can do to avoid a climate disaster. He has even released a book that is a great read: How to Avoid a Climate Disaster

Innovations: There are numerous environmental innovations, techniques, and technologies that continue to be made. Many of these innovations continue to be implemented however still need much improvement. Note that for some of the technologies the costs are listed. This is because they are a major factor that prevents widespread implementation. These are just some of the many environmental innovations being implemented.

• Direct Air Capture : A way to capture carbon dioxide directly from the air through the use of a mechanical system. This is a key technology to help us reach net-zero goals with greenhouse gases. Cost: $94 to $232 per ton of CO2,  predicted to drop below $60 by 2040 (Science Direct). This is a form of carbon dioxide removal (CDR)

 

• Green Infrastructure:  Green infrastructure refers to ecological systems, both natural and engineered, that act as living infrastructure.  The elements are planned and managed primarily for stormwater control, but also exhibit social, economic and environmental benefits. The term green infrastructure encompasses a menagerie of environmental innovations. Some examples include a bioretention basin, green vegetation roof, bioswale, permeable pavement, and even a rainwater tank. Green infrastructure is continuing to become more commonly used in large cities such as New York City and Chicago not only to help combat rapid climate change but to also replace old systems with new ones. An environmentalist will often refer to old and industrial systems as grey infrastructure, which includes dams, seawalls, impermeable pavement, water treatment plants, and pipes (Conservation International). All cities aim for the transition from grey to green infrastructure; however this shift can often be expensive and takes time. For more information check out ESF's link on green infrastructure HERE.

 

• Carbon Capture & Storage: As a result of the carbon captured through the process of direct air capture, storage of this carbon is also necessary to somewhere it cannot be released again. Cost: $10 per metric ton of carbon dioxide and $37 per metric ton of carbon (National Academics Press). Carbon capture & storage is also commonly referred to as BECCS (Bio-Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage).

 

• Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal: A way to extract carbon from the ocean instead of from the atmosphere (which uses DACs). Although this technique is still to be widely implemented and mostly theoretical, scientists are saying it may be more effective and economically viable in comparison to DACs because the carbon storage in the ocean is more dense. Removing carbon dioxide from the ocean as an effect allows the ocean to absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Scientists are proposing to store the carbon using CDRs (what ocean carbon dioxide removal is referred to) in rocks and in other reservoirs where the carbon cannot escape again. Here are two sources for further reading: Smithsonian, Climate Works.

 

• Geoengineering: Watch the Our Beautiful Earth Shorts video on geoengineering HERE. Cost: 10 billion dollars = approximately one ten-thousandth of the GDP (Ethics and International Affairs). Two main types: Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and Solar Radiation Management (SRM). GEOENGINEERING IS A TEMPORARY SOLUTION that can be used until permanent sustainable innovations are made, but our environment is currently in a dire predicament. Watch Operation Climate's podcast on how geoengineering works HERE.

 

• Zephyr Solar: An autonomous solar balloon bringing electricity to disaster zones. Uses: observing wildlife, helping with coordination amidst a disaster, and measuring air quality.

 

• Anti-Pollutant Tires: Whether it is from the release of rubber particles or debris, tires are polluting. To mitigate this problem the invention of anti-pollutant tires prevents the release of such particles. Electrostatic plates are used to capture the particles. These captured particles could even be used in the making of new tires. Learn more HERE.

 

• Pyrolysis: Pyrolysis is the thermal degradation of solid wastes at high temperatures to produce pyrolytic oil. This product can be used for a variety of needs including producing ethylene, forms of carbon, petroleum, coal, and even wood. This innovation is a viable solution for reducing solid waste and could be a future solution in reducing our future landfill problems. However, the environmental benefits are still widely contested. Read more HERE.

 

• B-Droid®: Creation of robotic bees to help pollinate crops and boost the bee population. This is yet to be widely implemented. Created at the University of Warsaw.

 

• Biochar: A type of charcoal produced from plant matter and stored in the soil as a means of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Why is this significant? Biochar may be helpful for the environment as it is currently being investigated as a means of carbon sequestration, and it may be a means to mitigate global warming and climate change. Biochar has numerous other benefits including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preventing the loss of nutrients in the compost material. It also promotes microbial activity, which in turn accelerates the composting process (Regeneration International).

 

• Renewable Energies (Nuclear, Geothermal, Hydropower, Wind, and Solar):  If you have heard of any environmental innovations at all, you are probably the most acquainted with the four energy sources listed above. Although these sources of energy are herd often, we are still quite far from widely implementing these sources of energy. Solar energy is something you can start to use more and more of. You can generate solar energy for your house through the use of solar panels. A new innovation, solar shingles, is also in the process of developing to allow you to use renewable energy within your home. Solar shingles basically have the same effect as solar panels, except that they may be more efficient and are unnoticeable. Read more on solar shingles HERE. Want more knowledge about renewable energies in general? Check out this link HERE.

 

• Groasis Waterboxx®: Planting device that facilitates the growing of crops and other plants in arid conditions such as deserts. Requires 90% water in comparison to traditional growth conditions. 10 by 10 pack is $2397. Available for purchase check HERE.

 

• AirCarbon®: Plastic that is made from carbon emissions which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. It is also cost-effective as it is not made from oil. Check out their website: HERE.

 

• Sustainable Fuel: Biofuel is a partially sustainable fuel source that has been developed. One of the most sustainable fuel sources is Biodiesel, which can decrease greenhouse gases up to 86%. It is also a nontoxic and biodegradable fuel source. Read more HERE.

 

• Solar Glass: Solar glass is a new type of glass that can provide solar energy as well. It works as the windows contain solar cells that use the sunlight to create reusable energy. This can provide a home with a eco-friendly energy source as well. Read more HERE.

 

• Lab-Grown Meats: This might seem weird to you, but this invention has the potential to change the meat industry drastically. The production of meat from its initial stages, processing, and transportation contribute to a major chunk of our worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists can now, just from some small sample cells of a living animal, can cultivate meat outside an animal's body. This does not cause any additional harm either. Read more HERE.
  

Check out more interesting sustainable innovations from these sources:
Green Clean Guide
Interesting Engineering (many of the examples taking from HERE)
The Alternative Daily

Maybe your local researchers are coming up with new environmental innovations. If they are, get in contact with them and see if you can help them in any ways possible. New environmental innovations are still being made to this day in order to assist us with finding climate solutions. Be sure to visit this page again in the future, you may likely find new innovations.

Research: There is much research happening present-day in order to reach major climate-related goals. This includes trying to go all-solar by 2050 and finding innovations to these problems. This page will focus much on the innovations that have been developed as a result of environmental research. If you want to read more about environmental research that is happening and still in the development stage below are some important links:
Elsevier Journals
Indie Scientists
Science Direct
* Please note that these articles high-level and are meant for scientific studies, it is okay to not be able to fully comprehend the terminology in these articles.