Technology has made our lives easier. It also helps us save time and money. It has helped in making communication easier as well. Additionally, technology is known to help the environment as well. Digital documents have replaced paper, which saves trees. Technology has also paved the way for energy-efficient cars and appliances.
Despite technology changing our lives for the better, there is a dark side to it as well. Surprisingly, the majority of us are ignorant of this dark side. By dark side, we mean how it harms the environment every day. This is why technology is often called a two-edged sword. It improves as well as harms our environment.
Let us have a detailed look at how technology impacts our environment.
Environmental Pollution
The Industrial Revolution triggered an active advancement in technology and innovation in the latter half of the 1800s. The rapid increase in factories and manufacturing plants improved the quality of life. Consequently, there was an increase in environmental pollution as well. Smoke from the factories started affecting the air quality in the US. There was also the constant noise pollution from so many machines working together.
Today, we cannot spend a day without using at least one piece of technology. It has been ingrained in our life. Despite creating ease and convenience, the same technology is toxic to the environment.
Everyone has a smartphone, a computer, or a tablet. It is also a norm to upgrade these after one or two years. We upgrade them as soon as our finances allow it. However, when we discard the old devices, we do not even consider the environmental impact. What most people do not know is that these devices are made up of non-biodegradable materials, which means they do not vanish in the trash. They end up in landfills and the toxic metals in them end up polluting the earth or water they are in. This tech waste is so toxic that it makes the water land unsafe for consumption.
Carbon Emissions
Technology is not only limited to electrical appliances and gadgets. Cars, bikes, buses, airplanes, etc., are all part of technology. These play an important role in helping us move from one place to another. However, vehicles and all modes of transportation function by fossil fuel burning.
Burning of fuel results in the production of greenhouse gases or carbon emissions. Considering the amount of greenhouse gases produced by each vehicle, their effect is extremely harmful. They reflect the sun’s heat and radiation toward the Earth, which contributes to global warming. This triggers a chain reaction of more damage to the environment and the earth’s climate.
Don’t Lose Hope Yet
Despite global warming being a bitter reality, we should not lose hope in technology just yet. As we mentioned in the introduction of this blog post, technology is a double-edged sword.
Just as it is harming the environment, it is also saving it. Many organizations across the world are dedicated to using technology to try and reverse its impact. Technology dedicated to saving the environment is called green tech. It helps in monitoring, reversing, or reducing the risk to the environment.
Green tech is working at different scales, both larger and smaller, to help the environment. Some of the useful green tech are:
Air Purifiers: These improve the air quality, but filtering out toxic substances like particulate matter from the air. Air purifiers can have a better impact on the environment around you by being integrated with IoT (Internet of Things). This means that they can be included in a network of ‘things’ or appliances that are connected to each other and improve the environment. A dependable internet connection like Xfinity allows Air Purifiers to connect to air quality monitors. If the meter detects a drop in the air quality, it can notify you and then you can turn on the air purifier.
Smart Meters: These are automated gas and electricity usage monitors. These meters allow the users to see how much energy they are consuming. These send your energy usage to the supplier in real time, so you have an accurate estimate of your bill. Smart meters are a great way to track the energy usage. They directly help in reducing our carbon footprint as well, by making us conscious.
Electric Vehicles: Electric vehicles use batteries to function and are not dependent on fossil fuels. This means their use does not release carbon emissions and greenhouse gases. These include electric scooters, hoverboards, and electric cars.
These are some of the innovative green tech that is playing a big role in protecting the environment from more damage. Other options include green architecture, vertical farming, carbon capture, and smart cities.
Wrapping Up
Technology has the potential to both, harm and save the environment. However, this does not mean that we should sit back and let green technology handle it all. Saving the environment is a combined effort that requires all of us to be mindful of our actions that can negatively harm the environment.
