The computer you're using to read this is using electricity, and so is your mobile device and video game system. We're all guilty of enjoying things that aren't exactly eco-friendly, but if we're smarter about how we use technology, we can reduce our environmental impact. Technotrash , also called electronic waste or e-waste, is any broken or unwanted electrical or electronic device, and is currently the most rapidly-growing type of waste.
If you just throw away technotrash with the regular trash, it usually ends up in a landfill. Most electronics contain non- biodegradable materials, and heavy metals and toxic materials like cadmium, lead and mercury. Over time, these toxic materials can leak into the ground, where they can contaminate the water we drink, the plants we eat and the animals that live around the area.
Many European countries have even banned technotrash from landfills. These toxic materials can cause all kinds of bad effects including nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and even cancer. If you keep eating and drinking contaminated food and water, these toxins can build up in your body.
If you eat animals that have been contaminated, you're getting a double dose of toxins. What's even worse, your body can't properly process some of these metals and so they might take years to get out of your system.
To help protect the environment, don't put technotrash in with the rest of your household's garbage. Electric vehicles could potentially be the way forward for a greener society because companies such as Bloomberg have predicted that they could become cheaper than petrol cars by and according to Nissan, there are now in fact more electric vehicle charging stations in the UK than fuel stations 3.
For a slightly more ambitious technology to conclude with, the idea of pulling carbon dioxide directly out of the atmosphere has been circulating climate change mitigation research for years, however it has only recently been implemented and is still in the early stages of development.
The air is then pushed through a filter by many large fans, where CO2 is removed. It is thought that this technology can be used to manage emissions from distributed sources, such as exhaust fumes from cars.
Full-scale DAC operations are able to absorb the equivalent amount of carbon to the annual emissions of , average cars. Many argue that DAC is essential for climate change mitigation and that it can help reach the Paris Climate Agreement goals, as carbon dioxide in the air has been the main cause of the problem after all.
However, the high cost of DAC currently means that it is not an option on a large scale and some believe that reliance on this technology would pose a risk as it may reduce emission reduction as people may be under the pretense that all of their emissions will simply be removed.
Although we cannot reverse the negative impact of technology on the environment caused by industrialisation, many believe that new environmental technology, such as renewable energy combined with smart logistics and electric transport, has the potential to bring about the rapid decarbonisation of our economy and the mitigation of further detrimental harm.
Sensors play a huge part in the positive impact of technology on the environment as they often play a vital role in the monitoring and reduction of harmful activities.
At Edinburgh Sensors, we produce bespoke gas sensing technology which can be used across a wide range of applications, many of which can be used to mitigate environmental concerns.
This article presents just three of these applications; the monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions, the monitoring of methane using an infrared sensor and the detection of gases using a UAV drone. To find out how we can assist you with the measurement of greenhouse gas emissions, simply contact us. From monitoring global warming to tracking the spread of pollution, there are many reasons to use a drone in order to monitor carbon dioxide, methane and other hydrocarbon gas concentrations in remote or dangerous locations.
If you have enjoyed reading this article about the impact of environmental technology and technology on the environment , why not join Edinburgh Sensors on social media and sign up to our infrequent newsletter to be the first to know about our latest products, research and developments.
Or if you have just as many concerns about the impact of technology on the environment as we do and are interested in using gas sensing technology to play a part in the reduction of environmental harm, we encourage you to get in touch with a member of our team today as we would be delighted to assist you. Scroll to top Menu. For example, in Ghana there have been reports of highly-toxic dumping grounds for old technology. Computers and the environment Technology has had an impact on the environment that is both positive and negative.
Advantages There are some benefits to the introduction of technology on the environment: using email and working electronically means that less printing is required, and so less paper is used using systems like FaceTime , Skype and video conferences can reduce the need for people to travel to meet each other, and so less fuel is used people can work from home - which reduces commuting less fuel is used and means that less office space is needed Disadvantages However, there are also some drawbacks.
Knowledge Base Toggle local menu Menus About the team. Knowledge Base Search. Log in. Options Help Chat with a consultant. Include archived documents. Minimize your computer's impact on the environment On this page:.
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