According to climate leaders at the Global Climate Action Summit – along with the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and others – the digital revolution will help curb greenhouse gas emissions immensely within the next 12 years.
And not just by a little bit. Below 1990 levels. While at the same time, meeting rising consumer energy demands.
Research From NOAA
This assertion was first reported in 2016 by NOAA and researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder. Coming from a study published in the Nature Climate Change journal, here was the pitch:
“The United States could slash greenhouse gas emissions from power production by up to 78 percent below 1990 levels within 15 years while meeting increased demand.”
The study was different from most on the topic. Rather than focusing heavily on political policies, the research was predicated on emerging technology.
Researchers used an advanced economic equation to analyze a range of cost, generation, demand and transmission scenarios. The main argument was that infrastructure enhancements to promote “weather-driven” renewable resources could support a good chunk of U.S. electricity costs comparable to today.
“Our research shows a transition to a reliable electrical generation and transmission system can be accomplished with commercially available technology and within 15 years,” co-lead author Alexander MacDonald said of the study.
Although improvements in wind and solar generation are reducing the cost of producing renewable energy, these energy resources can be somewhat intermittent. As a result, utilities have invested in surplus generation to support renewable energy generation with natural gas generators and other reserves.
Is the Sky the Limit?
Due to rapidly rising production, of course, there’s going to be limitations to reducing the global carbon footprint. Especially when you consider rising economic powerhouses (like China) that aren’t exactly focused on green energy.
An article by The Next Web had an optimistic outlook on how environmental-friendly technology is progressing:
“Modern ways of generating electricity that doesn’t require burning coal or other fossil fuels are rising. These methods, including wind, hydroelectric, and solar electricity, may have been inefficient (and costly) in the past, but new technologies have boosted their cost-effectiveness and continue to do so. Businesses can offset their carbon footprint immensely by relying on these new technologies.”
This is an optimistic outlook, one that is believable considering the general history of civilization. The ice age, the Black Death, and on and on. For millenia, humans have overcome catastrophe after catastrophe.
Just look at medical innovations. The development of vaccines and antibiotics have saved millions of people.
If history is correct, technology will help us adapt to a seemingly inevitable environmental crisis.
3 Green Technologies to Reduce Carbon Footprint
So… what’s going to get us to the goal? That is, to reduce carbon emissions to 1990s levels? Considering it’s such a lofty goal, we can at least analyze some fo the more unique technologies that are on the horizon.
Here are three to consider:
1. Mobiliteam
This company is building an air booster that curbs consumption from electric cars. It does so by increasing the efficiencies of air conditioning systems. Thankfully, it has zero impact on the comfort of passengers. Believe it or not, air conditioning in a vehicle accounts for up to 10 percent of its fuel consumption.
So, in effect, it’s more than just an environmental benefits. It’s also an economic advantage.
2. TEBS
Also known as the “Traffic Energy Bar System”, TEBS it takes a much different approach from the typical fuel-efficient vehicle system. The goal of the technology isn’t to make vehicles more efficient, or even decrease road traffic. Rather, it uses busy roads to create energy to be used elsewhere.
If it works, it’s a compelling development. How it works is the technology is installed across roads that experience a high volume of traffic. When cars slow down, the wheels move over a system that creates an up and down motion. This motion then generates electricity. So in effect, it converts the wasted energy from slowing vehicles to energy that can power other systems.
3. Mutum
This last innovation has massive potential. Mutum’s goal is to decrease both residential and industrial carbon emissions. The philosophy is born out of the “sharing economy,” as it reduces overconsumption by allowing people or businesses to share with others.
The average electrical drill is used for a whopping 12 minutes during its lifetime. Mutum plans to use the objects so they won’t be bought, but rather borrowed. The idea is that over-manufacturing is a product of over-consumption.