De
Team Thoughts
One of the key causes of man-made climate change has been the Industrial Revolution and the technology that underpins it. Another industrial revolution and a new set of technology appears to be on the way to assisting humanity in avoiding the worst effects of anthropogenic global warming.
More than just optimizing our creature comforts with smarter wearable devices, bringing new efficiencies to industry and logistics, and enhancing our homes and workspaces with more responsive technology, the Internet of Things (IoT) is about bringing new efficiencies to industry and logistics, and enhancing our homes and workspaces with more responsive technology. IoT solutions are already assisting in slowing climate change’s catastrophic trajectory. Global entrepreneurs are playing an active role in climate conservation by aligning IoT devices with international standards.
Green technologies and renewable energy sources will have the greatest positive impact, but the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart connectivity will be a critical enabler of the above solutions, allowing green microgrids to be brought online when non-renewable utility networks fail or are unavailable. Simultaneously, the adoption of the Internet of Things and smart devices will enable energy networks and users to become more energy efficient in general, reducing energy consumption at a time when our environment’s future depends on it.
Energy and the Internet of Things are two areas where a lot of firms and organizations are working. Ameresco, a Massachusetts-based provider of energy infrastructure services that focuses on energy efficiency and renewables and serves both public and private-sector clients, is one of them. It announced in June that an extensive infrastructure project at the US Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, South Carolina, had been completed.
Most significantly, an inefficient, end-of-life steam plant was replaced with a fully automated facility supported by 20,000 solar modules, generating 5.5 MW of AC power. When the main utility grid is unavailable or inoperable, the depot’s microgrid control system, which is networked and automated, can automatically switch to its microgrid, resulting in low or no downtime. It also implies that the island’s overall energy consumption can be tracked in real time and fulfilled with a proportionate on-site energy source. Finally, the new technologies Ameresco implemented have resulted in a 75% reduction in the site’s utility energy usage, as well as a 25% reduction in water consumption.
EDF Energy’s combined-cycle power plant in Bouchain, France, received a Guinness World Record for the most efficient power plant in the world thanks to GE’s Digital Power Plant, which allowed the company to reach an exceptional 62.2 percent efficiency rating. Engie, Central Puerto, China Machinery Engineering Corp., and Israel Electric Corp., as well as GE’s own plants, have all deployed the array of efficiency-enhancing technology. As a result, the development and deployment of IoT is already having a significant impact on energy efficiency and carbon emissions around the world.
Similar IoT-driven efficiency solutions for the energy business have been developed by other firms such as Cisco and Fujitsu. But, putting industrial uses aside for a time, a slew of startups are using IoT to help make domestic energy consumption more efficient. For example, Bosch is one of numerous companies that make smart thermostats that allow homeowners to control their energy consumption, and Hive has released a similar line of smart gadgets for domestic energy consumption, including a smart plug that can be turned off remotely.
The World Green Building Council is coordinating local efforts to ensure that all new buildings function at net zero carbon to assist reduce carbon effect in ordinary economic activities. All of the Council’s primary pillars, including lowering energy consumption, generating renewable energy on-site, and performing closed-loop carbon consumption and waste assessment, are supported by IoT sensors already accessible. By enhancing efficiency and decreasing dependency on throwaway materials (such as paper) in both the public and private sectors, IoT-powered smart services and industry might account for a 3% reduction in carbon emissions.
In the drive to extend carbon monitoring and taxes, IoT sensors will become increasingly vital. According to the UN Climate Action Sustainable Innovation Forum, only 15% of carbon emissions are currently priced and taxed, and the group intends to expand rapidly. Regulators have traditionally struggled to enforce anti-pollution measures. The good news is that climate-focused public-private partnerships have become more popular in the twenty-first century. Enterprises, municipal governments, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have all increased their involvement in and coordination of large-scale climate change initiatives.
However, coordination and enforcement might be difficult for these organizations. Smaller firms may lack the ability to enforce standards, and outside auditors and monitoring agencies may not always be able to offer coverage. Air quality and other sensors linked into an urban area’s smart lighting grid, for example, might offer these bodies with constant and reliable monitoring and real-time reporting of actual carbon emissions and other polluting activities at sites engaging in carbon reduction schemes. Even in the absence of a meaningful global climate change accord, this would aid public-private partnerships in enforcing norms.
Given the current state of IoT technology, the globe might soon transition to a connected and responsive network that is accessible to everyone. One step toward that goal is the proposal of a common environmental sensor network powered by IoT technology. Access to a reliable and consistent source of carbon and climate data could assist build consensus and make policy creation and implementation easier. Using technology to combat climate change is only the first step. Partnerships between the public and private sectors will need to develop and mature, and policymakers’ commitment to investing in solutions will need to increase.
For its part, the Internet of Things will do more than keep score. It will provide climate data that can be used to make decisions. By increasing the movement of people, energy, goods, and information, it will reduce waste. It will continue to evolve as academics and leaders come to a new understanding of the steps that must be taken to safeguard us from rising temperatures and dangerous climate conditions.
