A new year is on the horizon; so close we can even smell its fresh air through our masks. Many believed 2020 would never end, but we are finally at the finish line. With this new year comes new expectations, opportunities, and ideas. But most importantly, another year brings forth green innovations that will help our planet prosper. Novel inventions and continued research are promoting the exciting development of new green tech. Here are some to watch out for in the coming year.
A New Iron Hero
A new sustainable method for fuel has been developed in the Netherlands. As fuel for its furnace, a brewery is using a green cycle of renewable iron.
According to reports by New Atlas, the iron is working as a type of clean battery tech for combustion processes. Iron is burned in the furnaces, and then re-used when its waste is recycled through sustainable methods. This process has helped the brewery develop an eco-friendly process in the brewing of their product.
To accomplish this, the business teamed up with Eindhoven University and a tech company called Metal Power.
This new green method is a promising alternative that we should expect to hear more about in 2021.
Vegan Dressing
Two businessmen from Mexico have developed a tech concept that utilizes the prickly pear cactus to create a new form of vegan leather.
Called by the name of Desserto, this vegan leather was created when both of the Mexican entrepreneurs realized the negative effects their industries were having on the environment. They decided to create something that would make a change.
And even better, no other natural resources are used to develop this type of leather, for cacti do not require an irrigation system or any form of artificial dehydration process.
Recycling Makes Cents
More and more startups are being founded every year to address the issue of plastic waste. In fact, more than 155 have been created in the past decade. 2021 expects an increase in this eco-friendly industry in comparison to this past year.
More and more innovations are being developed to transform plastic waste into higher-value products and repurposed green tech. You do not have to go further than your local grocery store to see the diversity of products available made from recycled plastic.
It’s important that one supports these companies in order to ensure the founding of more. This will help the planet recover from the damage it has already withheld from plastic waste.
Green Energy
The development of green hydrogen is a promising piece of green tech for the coming year. The use of green hydrogen in the industrial world will transform the harmful processes by enabling the generation of a clean energy carrier that can decarbonize said processes.
Produced with the use of renewable energy and through the process of electrolysis, green hydrogen is already being deemed the fuel of the future by Forbes magazine. 2021 is going to be a significant year in its industry. And the larger companies behind the eco-friendly production of this fuel expect a major on heavy industry and transportation emissions by the year 2026.
Smart Windows
For a few years now, it has been rather popular for homes to install large windows in order to allow for a grander flow of natural light, and therefore a reduction in electricity consumption. And while that trend is growing with every passing year, there is a new window trend that is expected to expand in the coming year. That is the use of smart glass windows.
Smart glass is a material that changes its heating properties based on both the internal and external conditions. For example, if it is hot outside, the glass will turn translucent to block excessive heat that would push the air conditioner to work harder, but if it is cold outside, then the glass will become transparent to allow the sunlight to warm up the home instead of the heating system.
This innovative and eco-friendly tech is changing how much energy a house consumes. The more smart windows, the less electricity.
There is a lot to look forward to in the coming year. So keep your head up and be on the lookout for all these new exciting green technologies. You are sure to spot many more. Cheers to the new year and to a greener planet!
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