While many people take steps to reduce their carbon footprint, most of us feel like we can only do so much. We often focus on what we can do as individuals, from carpooling to turning off lights when we’re not using them to installing solar panels at home. But did you know that there are lots of technologies out there that will allow you to be more eco-friendly without making any sacrifices? In fact, some of these technologies make it possible to save money and reduce your environmental impact even more! Read on to learn about 7 of the most environmental friendly technologies that you can implement today.
1) 100% Solar Powered Electric Cars
Electric cars are becoming more popular every day, and in most states, you can get a tax credit for buying one. Plus, if you live in an area where wind or solar power is abundant (windy hilltops make great sources of free energy), you could invest in your solar-powered charging station. Studies have shown that electric cars also get about 5-10% better mileage than their conventional counterparts—and save you a bundle on fuel costs!
2) Recycled Fiber in Cars
Carbon fiber, commonly used in high-end car manufacturing for its strength and lightweight properties, is not just an expensive option, but a non-renewable one. What’s better? Car manufacturers are increasingly turning to recycled carbon fiber as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional production. With carbon fiber recycling on the rise, automakers can now repurpose materials that would otherwise have ended up in landfills. Using recycled materials reduces not only unnecessary waste but also overall cost for manufacturers. Plus, it offers them a tangible way to green their business practices and improve their brand’s reputation—and bottom line—by helping them go green without sacrificing performance or reliability.
3) Electric Buses
Cutting down on fossil fuels is crucial to protect our planet, and switching over to electric buses can help significantly. Already, more than 70 percent of bus fleets in North America have been converted to hybrid vehicles. As for individual consumers, if you live near a city with an electrical charging station, consider buying an electric or hybrid car. If not, plug-in hybrids are another good option because they run on both gas and electricity.
4) Flywheel Energy Storage Technology
if you have a surplus of energy, and you need to store it for later use. The flywheel is a kind of spinning wheel that uses rotational kinetic energy. Flywheels are most commonly used in applications where power needs to be stored temporarily or until power is needed. For example, they're often used in electric vehicles like the Chevy Volt and Tesla Model S, as well as in off-grid solar power systems. With flywheels, you can store your surplus electricity without having to rely on expensive batteries or other storage devices.
5) Magnetic Energy Storage Technology
Magnetic Energy Storage Technology or MEST is a means to store and transport large amounts of electrical energy using magnets. The magnets used are superconductive – they have no resistance to electricity, meaning electricity can flow through them without any loss, which makes storage very efficient. Superconductors also allow extremely strong magnetic fields to be generated without any heat being produced. In essence, you can harness 100% of the energy from superconductors in an efficient manner. As superconductors are cooled below -200°C with liquid nitrogen, a very cost-effective coolant for industrial processes (as it is readily available), their efficiency increases dramatically and only 0.2% losses occur when transporting electricity via MEST.
6) Compressed Air Energy Storage Technology
It’s not exactly an energy storage technology, but it's getting a lot of attention lately: Compressed air energy storage (CAES) is a method to store large amounts of electrical power by using electricity to compress air and then holding it in large underground caverns. It is currently used only in a small number of locations but could become much more common if battery prices fall. In some places, CAES can compete economically with pumped hydroelectric storage or other types of batteries like lithium-ion—especially where natural gas is cheap and abundant. Other potential uses include using compressed air to drive cars or as an alternative to liquefied natural gas for ships
7) Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology
Like electric cars, fuel cell cars use an electric motor to power a battery, but instead of plugging in for a recharge, they fuel up with hydrogen. Fuel cells convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity through a chemical reaction (which produces only water as a byproduct), creating energy that powers an engine. Hydrogen is considered green because it contains no carbon—the primary contributor to global warming—and produces water instead of the toxic exhaust like gasoline does. Currently, many car manufacturers (Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai among them) offer hybrid cars that run on both gas and electric power; these models are considered green due to their reduced emissions and fossil-fuel consumption.
