May Theme Report <Eco-friendly Urban Technology>by Obadare Adenekan | 30-06-2023 21:44 |
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.jpeg) Eco-friendly Urban Technology: How to Make Cities More Sustainable and Livable. Eco-friendly urban technology is the application of technology that aims to reduce the environmental impact of urban activities and improve the quality of life in urban areas. Eco-friendly urban technology can involve various aspects, such as energy, transportation, buildings, and public facilities. Some examples of eco-friendly urban technology are: - Renewable energy technology: Renewable energy sources, such as solar panels and wind turbines, can provide clean and green electricity for urban areas, reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions. Renewable energy technology can also help create decentralized and resilient energy systems that can cope with power outages and natural disasters (Chen et al., 2020; REN21, 2020). - Smart grid technology: Smart grid is a network of intelligent devices that can monitor, control, and optimize the flow of electricity in urban areas. Smart grid technology can help integrate renewable energy sources, improve energy efficiency and conservation, reduce peak demand and power losses, and enable dynamic pricing and demand response (Chen et al., 2020; REN21, 2020). - Eco-friendly transportation technology: Eco-friendly transportation modes, such as electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, bicycles, and public transit, can reduce air pollution, noise pollution, traffic congestion, and fuel consumption in urban areas. Eco-friendly transportation technology can also involve smart mobility solutions, such as car-sharing, bike-sharing, ride-hailing, and autonomous vehicles (Chester & Horvath, 2019; Liu et al., 2020). - Green building technology: Green buildings are structures that are designed to minimize the environmental impact of construction and operation. Green building technology can involve various features, such as passive solar design, natural ventilation, green roofs and walls, rainwater harvesting, energy-efficient lighting and appliances, and smart home systems (Chester & Horvath, 2019; Liu et al., 2020). - Sustainable public facility technology: Sustainable public facilities are infrastructures that provide essential services for urban residents, such as water, sanitation, waste management, healthcare, education, and recreation. Sustainable public facility technology can involve various solutions, such as water purification and recycling, biodegradable and recyclable materials, waste-to-energy and composting systems, telemedicine and e-learning platforms, and green spaces and parks (Chen et al., 2020; Liu et al., 2020). Conclusion Eco-friendly urban technology is playing an increasingly important role in creating more sustainable and livable cities. By promoting renewable energy, smart grid technology, eco-friendly transportation, green buildings, and sustainable public facilities, urban areas can reduce their environmental impact and improve their quality of life. However, eco-friendly urban technology also faces many challenges, such as high costs, lack of awareness, regulatory barriers, and social acceptance. Therefore, there is a need for more research, innovation, collaboration, and education to overcome these challenges and realize the full potential of eco-friendly urban technology for the future of cities. References Chen et al. (2020). Eco-city development strategies in China: A case study of Shenzhen International Low-Carbon City. Journal of Cleaner Production, 244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118759 Chester & Horvath (2019). Environmental assessment of green infrastructure strategies for climate change adaptation in cities. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 23(4), 951–964. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12833 Liu et al. (2020). A review on eco-city evaluation methods and highlights for integration indicators system construction in China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118537 REN21 (2020). Renewables in cities 2019 global status report. https://www.ren21.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/gsr_2019_full_report_en.pdf
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