SANTIAGO, JOSHUA M.

ARCH4A | FAR4205

GREEN TECHNOLOGIES

1. SUNLIGHT TRANSPORT

The light can be distributed in a variety of ways, including over a large surface,
directed at the ceiling (creating the illusion that the light is coming from an open shaft),
or onto a large wall area like a waterfall. The light changes as the light outside changes,
allowing people to reconnect with the natural cycle even in the darkest rooms.

The sunlight emitting luminaries resemble and function similarly to standard

lamps, emitting ambient light.

2. PLASTIC ROADS

Plastic Roads, if successful, have the potential to significantly reduce the carbon
footprint (50 to 72 percent) of traditional road construction due to their longer lifespan
and reduced transport movements. In terms of plastic road technology, we have two
options: they can be entirely made of plastic or mixed with asphalt. The all-plastic
version is made up of prefabricated, hollow, modular elements made from consumer
waste plastics.

The product was recently demonstrated on two 30-meter stretches of cycle

track in the Dutch towns of Zwolle and Giethoorn. This product, dubbed Plastic Road, is
still in the prototype stage.
3. SOLAR FLOWER

A solar flower is a flower-shaped solar panel system mounted on the ground.

The most significant difference between it and a rooftop panel is that it includes a sun
tracker to maximize solar energy production. Unlike solar panels, which must be
installed, solar flowers are completely portable and ready to plug in.

The Solar Flower is an environmentally friendly method of obtaining clean

energy. The Smart Flower generates 4–6 MWh/year, depending on location, which is
enough to meet the average electricity needs of a European household and half of an
American household.

4. PLANT WALLS

A Plant Wall can be enhanced with smart technology features like monitoring
and self-irrigation, which improves its survival, aesthetic, and air purification potential.
Plant Walls are vertical structures that hold enough soil to grow various types of plants
or other greens on them. Outdoor plant walls insulate buildings, collect rainwater, and
serve as insect habitats. Because these structures contain living plants, they often
include built-in irrigation systems.

Aside from the visual impact, there are numerous advantages to having plant
walls.
5. LED LIGHTING

LED lighting is a simple example of green technology. There is a significant

increase in efficiency by avoiding incandescent lights. LED light bulbs use less energy
than incandescent bulbs. Furthermore, LED lights are useful for purposes other than
pure visual aids. Instead, they've been used in vertical farming and have even helped to
combat malaria. Smart LEDs are a low-cost smart home upgrade that even apartment
dwellers can implement.

6. Building Integrated Photovoltaics

The most common Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) systems are

photovoltaic shingles, which are solar panels that look and function like traditional
roofing materials like slate while generating electricity. Aside from material and
electricity cost savings, solar roofs frequently have lower overall costs than PV systems.
Tesla solar roofs have received a lot of attention recently, but other brands such as RGS
Energy, SunTegra, and CertainTeed are also available. Once installed on the roof, solar
panels emit no emissions. The average solar shingle can provide maximum energy
output for two to three decades.
7. COOL PAVEMENT

Cool pavements reduce urban air temperature, improve air quality, and lower
surface temperatures, all of which can help with local climate change adaptation.

Traditional pavements are a major contributor to the urban heat island effect,
which is common in large urban areas with average temperatures up to 4° C higher than
their surroundings. New cool pavements can be built using higher reflectivity mixes,
permeable pavements, or vegetated pavements. Reflective pavements keep you cooler
in the sun than standard pavements. They have the potential to lower local air
temperature by 0.6°C (1°F).

8. PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTATS

A low-cost green technology solution is a programmable thermostat. Almost

every house or apartment now has one. A programmable thermostat allows you to set a
schedule and automatically adjust the temperature to save not only energy but also
money. Furthermore, programmable thermostats do not have to be smart thermostats.
Rather, many "dumb" thermostats allow you to set a schedule. A smart thermostat does
provide the convenience of remotely monitoring and changing the temperature.

9. RAIN BARRELS

A rain barrel is exactly what it sounds like: a large barrel for collecting rainwater,
usually with a spigot at the bottom. Watering your garden, for example, is a major factor
in a home's overall water usage, and it's also a simple fix with a rain barrel or two and a
garden irrigation system.

10. GEOTHERMAL HEAT PUMP

In the summer, this means your HVAC unit expels hot air while cooling the air
inside, and in the winter, it absorbs heat from the outside and transfers it into your
home.

If you have central heating and air conditioning in your home, it keeps the
temperature stable by exchanging air between the inside and outside of your home. A
geothermal heat pump operates in the same way, except that its heat exchange
apparatus is buried underground, where temperatures are much more stable. In a
closed loop system, geothermal heat is drawn from stable underground heat. This is not
 the most efficient system because the outside air is hotter than you want in the summer
and much colder in the winter.

Conclusion

However, as with the beginning of the steam-powered revolution, we can only advance into
greener innovations through trial and error in real-world conditions.

Of course, as with any new technology, there are always drawbacks in addition to perceived
benefits. What an amazing city would a city with green walls and roofs be?

Because some of these technologies are still in the demonstration stage, they have not been
widely publicized. They do, however, provide a limited glimpse of how exciting a low-carbon future can
be.
References:

https://medium.com/climate-conscious/10-green-technologies-that-will-change-the-world-
9f7a709c1a15

https://www.electropages.com/blog/2019/09/what-is-green-technology