An Overview of Environmental Technology: Its Definition, Goals, and Importance

Nearly 7 billion people live on the planet. With so many people both producing waste and consuming natural resources, balancing societal needs with limited resources is vital to the long-term viability of the environment and the health of the world’s population. Consider these statistics from the United Nations Environmental Statistics Division:

• In 2005, the United States produced nearly 223 million tons of solid waste.
• In 2010, there were 1,152 threatened species in the United States.
• In 2007, the United States consumed more than 2.1 billion tons of oil. In the same year, only eight percent of electricity produced in the U.S. was considered renewable.

Humans’ environmental footprint on the Earth is undeniable.Finding a way to ensure natural resources are available for future generations while maintaining the lifestyles to which many are accustomed is a vital area of scientific research and development. That’s where environmental technology comes into play. What is Environmental Technology? Environmental technology – or GreenTech – includes ways to meet the needs of today’s society while making minimal impact on the Earth’s natural resources. The field is rapidly growing and evolving to encompass innovative, new technologies that are used in daily life. These technologies run the gamut, from non-toxic household cleaning products to green nanotechnology, which could eventually alter the way virtually everything is manufactured. Since the field is relatively new, the possibilities for future technological developments are seemingly endless. There are crucial areas of focus for scientists and researchers. Arguably the most importantneed to address through environmental technology is energy. The development of alternative fuels and finding new ways to generate energy are vital to maintaining the “people habitat.” Another significant area for development is green building, which means making “green” choices in building materials as well as seeking out environmentally friendly locations for new developments. Green chemistry looks for ways to eliminate or reduce the use of hazardous substances in everyday life. Another highly complex subset of environmental technology is green nanotechnology. By manipulating materials at the scale of the nanometer – one billionth of a meter – scientists may be able to alter manufactured products at their very basic level. The Goals of Environmental Technology Regardless of the complexity of the technology, the goals of environmental technology are the same:

1. Sustainability

Meeting people’s needs at present and ensuring current lifestyles can be continued in the future without significant negative impact to natural resources.

2. “Cradle-to-cradle” Design

Creating manufactured products that can be reclaimed or reused rather than ending up in a landfill or sewer system is one effective way to lessen the clutter and minimize pollution.

3. Source Reduction

Altering the patterns of both production and consumption proves to be a great way to reduce waste and pollution.

4. Innovation

Searching for the perfect alternatives to technologies that have been proven to damage the environment as well as the health of people and animals, including formulating safer methods of fertilizing agricultural crops or an alternative to fossil fuel is a giant leap against the depletion of natural resources.

5. Viability

Making sure that new environmental technologies are implemented quickly and easily by making these methods cost-effective and accessible by a large number of people is a noble contribution to save Mother Earth. Many companies and government agencies are spearheading efforts to introduce new technologies that will protect and prolong the environment.  Finding ways to create sustainable communities is of utmost importance given that the population of the United States is expected to grow by 70 million in the next 25 years. Doing so will help to ensure a healthy, safe world for generations to come. Sunny Popali is SEO Director at http://tempocreative.com. Tempo Creative is an Arizona Inbound Marketing firm that has served over 700 clients since 2001. Tempo’s team specializes in digital and internet marketing services including web design, SEO, social media and strategy.