The term "technology" refers to the
application of knowledge for practical purposes.
The field of "green technology" encompasses a continuously evolving group
of methods and materials, from techniques for generating energy to
non-toxic cleaning products.
The present expectation is that this field will bring innovation and
changes in daily life of similar magnitude to the "information technology"
explosion over the last two decades. In these early stages, it is
impossible to predict what "green technology" may eventually encompass.
The goals that inform developments in this rapidly growing field include:
Sustainability - meeting the needs of
society in ways that can continue indefinitely into the future without
damaging or depleting natural resources. In short, meeting present needs
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs.
"Cradle to cradle" design - ending the
"cradle to grave" cycle of manufactured products, by creating products
that can be fully reclaimed or re-used.
Source reduction - reducing waste and
pollution by changing patterns of production and consumption.
Innovation - developing alternatives
to technologies - whether fossil fuel or chemical intensive agriculture -
that have been demonstrated to damage health and the environment.
Viability - creating a center of
economic activity around technologies and products that benefit the
environment, speeding their implementation and creating new careers that
truly protect the planet.
Energy
Perhaps the most urgent issue for green technology, this includes the
development of alternative fuels, new means of generating energy and
energy efficiency.
Green building
Green building encompasses everything from the choice of building
materials to where a building is located.
Environmentally preferred purchasing
This government innovation involves the search for products whose contents
and methods of production have the smallest possible impact on the
environment, and mandates that these be the preferred products for
government purchasing.
Green chemistry
The invention, design and application of chemical products and processes
to reduce or to eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances.
Green nanotechnology
Nanotechnology involves the manipulation of materials at the scale of the
nanometer, one billionth of a meter. Some scientists believe that mastery
of this subject is forthcoming that will transform the way that everything
in the world is manufactured. "Green nanotechnology" is the application of
green chemistry and green engineering principles to this field.
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