For numerous decades scientists, engineers and inventors are looking for ways to make life eco-friendlier in order to protect and preserve the environment. Today there are numerous green inventions that are both highly efficient and green. This article will highlight several of them.
Solar cells and solar panels
The development of solar cells began during the mid-19th century. French physicist Alexandre Edmond Becquerel was the first man to observe the photovoltaic effect. He conducted his experiments by using an electrode in a conductive solution exposed to light. For more than a century various scientist and engineering development the technology behind the solar cells, in 1958 the first solar panel was created. The solar panel is a large plate which is fitted with numerous solar calls that gather sunlight and convert it into energy. However solar cells and solar panels became popular and available to the public at the beginning of the 21st century. Since the year 2000, solar panels have become so popular that even the Vatican has decided to use them in order to create energy. The latest major building to be fitted with solar panels was the White House in Washington.
Green concrete - A little known fact is that concrete is the third largest source of manmade carbon dioxide. Or said in other words, concrete plays in integral into the current elevated air pollution levels. However throughout the years several eco-friendly companies have looked for ways to create green concrete that doesn’t produce harmful gases. Some have achieved immense success as they have managed to manufacture concrete that is carbon neutral. Even more some companies have managed to produce CO2-absoring concrete which will certainly help with the purification of the air.
Solar power plants - The increasing popularity of solar panels and the constantly evolving solar cell technology has led to the building of numerous solar plants throughout the planet. These plans collect the energy of the sun and use it to power the nearby settlements, villages and small cities. Here are some of the biggest solar power plants in the world in terms of megawatt peak (MWp).
- Topaz Solar Farm, USA (550 MWp)
- Desert Sunlight Solar Farm, USA (550 MWp)
- Longyanggxia Dam Solar Park, China (320 MWp)
- Charanka Solar Park, India (224 MWp)
- Solarpark Meuro, Germany (166 MWp)
- Toul-Rosières Solar Park, France (115 MWp)
- Amanecer Solar CAP, Chile (100 MWp)
- Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, Pakistan (100 MWp)
- Topaz Solar Farm, USA (550 MWp)
- Desert Sunlight Solar Farm, USA (550 MWp)
- Longyanggxia Dam Solar Park, China (320 MWp)
- Charanka Solar Park, India (224 MWp)
- Solarpark Meuro, Germany (166 MWp)
- Toul-Rosières Solar Park, France (115 MWp)
- Amanecer Solar CAP, Chile (100 MWp)
- Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, Pakistan (100 MWp)
Tidal power - Since the invention of electricity people have been looking for ways to exploit water, wind, sun and nuclear power in order to generate it. However in the last decade more and more scientist and engineers are focusing their attention on tidal power. They believe that they can harvest tidal power by using underwater kits. The United Kingdom will be the first country in human history to use such kits to collect tidal energy and convert it into electricity. If success it is expected that the kits will be able to generate enough electricity to power all the homes in the smaller cities of the UK.
Green construction - Just like many fields of business the construction industry has also been searching for ways to become eco-friendlier. This has led to the creation of many self-sustainable edifices. Such buildings are constructed in a manner that optimises the consumption of water and energy. They also enhance the cooling and heating capabilities of the structures by allowing air currents to flow freely throughout them. Last but not least green buildings have ameliorated waste management systems. Today there are numerous edifices through all over the world that are certified by various eco-friendly organisations Green Star, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and many, many more.
Biofuel - Transportation vehicles run on gasoline or diesel fuel. However both types of fuel tend to emit harmful gases that pollute the air. This is why a vast number of vehicle manufacturers and scientists are looking for ways to substitute gasoline and diesel fuel with their greener counterparts. For years numerous technologies have been invented but to date the most popular eco-friendly fuel remains the biofuel. Cellulosic ethanol more commonly known as biofuel is a fuel that unlike gasoline and diesel isn’t derived from petroleum but from biological materials such as wood, grass, non-edible parts of plants and animals. During the last decade biofuel has become so popular that today more and more people and companies such as van removal contractors tend to use it in order to power their vehicles.
Electric vehicles - Speaking of eco-friendly technologies for vehicles, electricity is also rapidly gaining popularity. Nowadays more and more automobile manufacturers are producing automobiles that run entirely on electricity. Engineers and scientist are expecting EVs short for electrical vehicles to becoming the next big thing when it comes to city car movement. A testament to this fact is that today a large number of countries from all over the world are investing into the building of EV-charging stations, so that people who own such vehicles can easily recharge the batteries of their automobiles.
Water consumption control system - It may appear odd but water is becoming sparser and this is why numerous companies have developed both large and small water consumption control systems that people can mount either in their homes or places of work in order to limit to usage of water. The problem is becoming so serious in some parts of the world countries have adopted laws in which it is predetermined how much water a household or business can use throughout a year.
Water purification plants - Aside of the control systems and laws that we aforementioned today a lot of countries are building water purification plants also known as wastewater treatment plants which distil already used water via numerous filtration processes and make it potable and reusable. At the moment the largest wastewater treatment facility is the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant in Chicago, USA.
Water purification plants - Aside of the control systems and laws that we aforementioned today a lot of countries are building water purification plants also known as wastewater treatment plants which distil already used water via numerous filtration processes and make it potable and reusable. At the moment the largest wastewater treatment facility is the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant in Chicago, USA.