IBDP Design Technology - 2.4 Clean Technology

Resource management and sustainable production / 2.4 /
Clean Technology

Clean technology seeks to reduce waste/pollution from production processes through radical or incremental development of a production system. Clean technology is found in a broad range of industries, including water, energy, manufacturing, advanced materials and transportation. As our Earth’s resources are slowly depleted, demand for energy worldwide should be on every designer’s mind when generating products, systems and services. The convergence of environmental, technological, economic and social factors will produce more energy-efficient technologies that will be less reliant on obsolete, polluting technologies

2.4.1 | Drivers for cleaning up manufacturing

Drivers for clean technology are the factors that motivate individuals, organizations, and governments to develop, adopt, and deploy clean technologies. These drivers can be divided into three broad categories: environmental, economic, and social:

Environmental:

Climate change mitigation
Pollution reduction
Resource conservation

Economic:

Declining cost of clean tech
Growing demand for sustainable products and services
Increased competitiveness of clean tech companies
Job creation and economic growth

Social:

Public awareness of environmental issues
Desire for more sustainable communities
Public health benefits
Reduced air and water pollution
More livable and resilient communities

In addition to these general drivers, there are also a number of specific factors that are motivating the development and adoption of clean technology, such as:

Government policies and regulations, such as carbon pricing, renewable energy targets, and fuel efficiency standards
Corporate sustainability initiatives
Consumer demand for sustainable products and services
Technological advances
The rising cost of fossil fuels and other traditional energy sources
The increasing impacts of climate change and other environmental problems

The combination of these drivers is creating a strong and growing demand for clean technology around the world. Clean technology investment is increasing rapidly, and new clean tech companies are emerging all the time. This trend is expected to continue in the coming years as the world transitions to a more sustainable future.

The drivers for cleaning up manufacturing are all interconnected. For example, government regulation can be seen as a social driver, as it is a response to public pressure. Similarly, cost savings can be seen as an economic driver, but it can also be seen as a social driver, as it can lead to lower prices for consumers.

Renewable energy:

Solar energy: Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, which can be used to power homes, businesses, and transportation systems.
Wind energy: Wind turbines use the power of the wind to generate electricity.
Geothermal energy: Geothermal power plants use the heat from the Earth's core to generate electricity
Biomass energy: Biomass power plants burn organic materials, such as wood and waste, to generate electricity
Hydropower: Hydroelectric dams use the power of moving water to generate electricity

Energy efficiency:

Energy-efficient light bulbs: Energy-efficient light bulbs use less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs to produce the same amount of light
Smart thermostats: Smart thermostats can learn your heating and cooling preferences and adjust the temperature accordingly, saving you energy and money.
Insulation: Insulation helps to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer, reducing your energy consumption
Efficient appliances: Energy-efficient appliances use less energy to operate, saving you money on your utility bills

Transportation:

Electric vehicles: Electric vehicles run on electricity instead of gasoline, which produces zero emisions
Hybrid vehicles: Hybrid vehicles combine a gasoline engine with an electric motor to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions
Public transportation: Public transportation systems, such as buses and trains, are a more energy-efficient way to travel than cars
Bicycles and walking: Bicycles and walking are zero-emission transportation options that are also good for you

Other:

Water purification systems: Water purification systems remove contaminants from water, making it safe to drink
Recycling and composting: Recycling and composting help to reduce waste and conserve resources
Green building materials: Green building materials are made from sustainable materials and are designed to reduce energy consumption and pollution

2.4.2 | International legislation and targets for reducing pollution and waste

Legislation can play a significant role in providing impetus for manufacturers to clean up their manufacturing processes. By requiring manufacturers to meet certain environmental standards, legislation can create a level playing field and incentivize manufacturers to adopt cleaner technologies. Legislation can for instance create:

Emissions standards: Legislation can set limits on the amount of pollutants that manufacturers can emit into the air and water. This can force manufacturers to invest in cleaner technologies and reduce their environmental impact. For example, the Clean Air Act in the United States has been credited with reducing air pollution from vehicles and industrial facilities by billions of tons.
Resource efficiency standards: Legislation can also set standards for the efficient use of resources, such as energy and water. This can encourage manufacturers to adopt more sustainable practices and reduce their operating costs. For example, the European Union has implemented a number of resource efficiency standards for appliances and other products.
Product bans and restrictions: In some cases, legislation may be used to ban or restrict the use of certain chemicals or products that are harmful to the environment. This can push manufacturers to develop safer and more sustainable alternatives. For example, many countries have banned the use of lead in gasoline and paint.
Financial incentives: Legislation can also be used to provide financial incentives for manufacturers to adopt clean technologies. This can include tax breaks, subsidies, and loan guarantees. For example, the United States government offers a number of financial incentives for the development and deployment of renewable energy technologies.

In addition to these specific examples, legislation can also play a more general role in promoting clean manufacturing by creating a supportive policy environment. For example, legislation can establish clear and consistent environmental regulations, provide funding for clean technology research and development, and promote the use of clean products and services by government agencies and businesses.

Manufacturers can react to legislation promoting green technology in a number of ways, including:

Compliance: Manufacturers can simply comply with the new legislation by meeting the minimum requirements. This may involve making incremental changes to existing processes or technologies.
Innovation: Manufacturers can use the legislation as an opportunity to innovate and develop new green technologies and processes. This may involve investing in research and development or partnering with other companies.
Advocacy: Manufacturers can advocate for changes to the legislation to make it more effective or to reduce their compliance costs. They can also work to educate the public about the benefits of green technology.

Here are some specific examples of how manufacturers can react to legislation promoting green technology:

A manufacturer of automobiles could comply with new fuel efficiency standards by making incremental improvements to existing engine designs. They could also innovate by developing new electric vehicle technologies.
A manufacturer of chemicals could comply with new emissions standards by installing scrubbers on their smokestacks. They could also innovate by developing new chemical processes that produce less pollution.
A manufacturer of consumer goods could comply with new packaging regulations by using recycled materials or reducing the amount of packaging they use. They could also innovate by developing new compostable or biodegradable packaging materials.

2.4.3 | End of pipe technologies

End-of-pipe technologies (EOP) are pollution control measures that are applied to emissions or effluents after they have been generated. EOP technologies are typically used to remove pollutants from air, water, or wastewater after they have been released into the environment. Examples of EOP technologies:

Scrubbers: Scrubbers are used to remove pollutants from air emissions. They work by spraying a mist of water or another liquid into the emissions stream, which helps to capture and remove the pollutants.
Electrostatic precipitators: Electrostatic precipitators are used to remove particulate matter from air emissions. They work by passing the emissions stream through an electric field, which causes the particulate matter to become charged and then attracted to a collection plate.
Denitrifiers: Denitrifiers are used to remove nitrogen oxides from air emissions. They work by converting the nitrogen oxides into harmless nitrogen gas.
Activated carbon filters: Activated carbon filters are used to remove organic pollutants from air and water emissions. They work by absorbing the pollutants onto the surface of the activated carbon.
Biological wastewater treatment: Biological wastewater treatment uses bacteria to break down organic pollutants in wastewater.
Chemical wastewater treatment: Chemical wastewater treatment uses chemicals to neutralize or remove pollutants from wastewater.

EOP technologies can be effective at reducing pollution levels, but they have a number of drawbacks. First, they are often expensive to install and operate. Second, they can be energy-intensive. Third, they can only remove pollutants that are already present in the emissions or effluents.

Cleaner production technologies (CPT), on the other hand, are designed to prevent pollution from being generated in the first place. CPT technologies can be more expensive to implement upfront, but they can save money in the long run by reducing pollution control costs and avoiding environmental fines.

2.4.4 | Incremental and radical solutions

Incremental clean technology solutions make gradual improvements to existing technologies and processes leading to new versions and generations.

Advantages of incremental clean technology solutions:

Less risky and expensive to implement
Can be deployed quickly as it exploits existing technologies.
Less disruptive to existing industries
Do not need to invest in new, large changes to processes, technologies, personnel or approaches.

Disadvantages of incremental clean technology solutions:

May produce smaller environmental benefits
May not be sufficient to address the scale of the climate crisis
Saturated (crowded) marketplace/ competition.
Can take a long time to implement.

Examples of incremental clean technology solutions:

LED light bulbs
Energy-efficient appliances
Hybrid vehicles
Renewable energy systems, such as solar panels and wind turbines

Radical solutions – Where a completely new product is devised by going back to the roots of a problem and thinking about a solution in a different way.

Advantages of radical clean technology solutions:

Have the potential to significantly reduce pollution and improve energy efficiency
Can lead to new industries and job creation
Have a high potential for market growth.
Fewer competitors.
Patenting new solutions – financial and reputational benefits.

Disadvantages of radical clean technology solutions:

More risky and expensive to implement
May face resistance from established industries
May take longer to deploy

Examples of radical clean technology solutions:

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology
Fusion energy
Next-generation batteries
Self-driving electric cars

The best approach to clean technology innovation is likely a combination of incremental and radical solutions. Incremental solutions can be used to make progress in the near term, while radical solutions can be developed and deployed in the longer term.

It is also important to note that the distinction between incremental and radical solutions can be blurry. Some technologies may start out as radical, but over time they become more incremental as they are adopted by the mainstream. For example, solar and wind energy were once considered radical technologies, but they are now becoming increasingly mainstream.

2.4.5 | System level solutions

System-level solutions for cleaner manufacturing are those that address the entire manufacturing system, rather than just individual components or processes. These solutions can be complex and require the participation of multiple stakeholders, but they have the potential to achieve significant environmental and economic benefits.

Some examples of system-level solutions for cleaner manufacturing include:

Design for the environment: This approach involves designing products and processes from the outset to minimize their environmental impact. This can be done by considering the entire life cycle of the product, from raw material extraction to disposal, and looking for ways to reduce pollution and waste at every stage.
Industrial symbiosis: This approach involves linking different manufacturing industries together so that they can share resources and waste products. For example, a paper mill could use the wastewater from a chemical plant to produce steam, and the chemical plant could use the paper mill's sludge to produce fertilizer.
Circular economy: This approach aims to create a closed-loop system in which all materials are reused or recycled, rather than being disposed of. This can be achieved by designing products that are easy to disassemble and recycle, and by developing new markets for recycled materials.
Green supply chain management: This involves working with suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the supply chain. This can be done by sourcing materials from sustainable suppliers, reducing transportation emissions, and minimizing packaging waste.
Waste prevention and reduction: This involves reducing the amount of waste generated at the manufacturing facility. This can be done by improving process efficiency, recycling and reusing materials, and composting organic waste.

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