View source for Environmental technology

{{AI-generated|date=September 2025}}
{{Short description|Technical and technological processes for protection of the environment}}
{{redirect|Envirotech|the company|Envirotech (company)}}
[[File:Ombrière SUDI - Sustainable Urban Design & Innovation.jpg|thumb|[[Sustainable design|Sustainable urban design]] and [[innovation]]: Photovoltaic ombrière SUDI is an autonomous and mobile station that replenishes energy for electric vehicles using [[solar energy]].]]{{Sustainable energy}}
'''Environmental technology''' (or '''envirotech''') is the use of engineering and technological approaches to understand and address issues that affect the environment with the aim of fostering environmental improvement. It involves the application of science and technology in the process of addressing environmental challenges through environmental conservation and the mitigation of human impact to the environment.

The term is sometimes also used to describe sustainable energy generation technologies such as [[photovoltaics]], [[wind turbine]]s, etc.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Analysing the role of environment-related technologies and carbon emissions in emerging economies: a step towards sustainable development |journal=Environmental Technology | first1=Muzzammil| last1=Hussain | first2=Ghulam Mustafa|last2=Mir|first3=Muhammad|last3=Usman|first4=Chengang|last4=Ye|first5=Sadia|last5=Mansoor|date=9 July 2020 |page=368 |doi=10.1080/09593330.2020.1788171 |access-date=30 October 2025| url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09593330.2020.1788171#abstract|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

==Purification and waste management==

===Water purification===
[[File:Reverse osmosis desalination plant.JPG|thumb|A view across a [[reverse osmosis]] [[desalination]] plant in [[Spain]]]]
{{excerpt|water purification}}

===Air purification===
[[Air purifier|Air purification]] describes the processes used to remove contaminants and pollutants from the air to reduce the potential adverse effects on humans and the environment. The process of air purification may be performed using methods such as mechanical filtration, ionization, activated carbon adsorption, photocatalytic oxidation, and ultraviolet light germicidal irradiation.

===Sewage treatment===
{{excerpt|Sewage treatment}}

===Environmental remediation===
[[Environmental remediation]] is the process through which contaminants or pollutants in soil, water and other media are removed to improve environmental quality. The main focus is the reduction of hazardous substances within the environment. Some of the areas involved in environmental remediation include; [[soil contamination]], [[hazardous waste]], groundwater contamination, oil, gas and chemical spills. There are three most common types of environmental remediation. These include soil, water, and sediment remediation.<ref name="ancoenv">{{Cite web |date=2022-09-20 |title=What Are the 3 Main Types of Site Remediation? |url=https://www.ancoenv.net/what-are-the-3-main-types-of-site-remediation |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=www.ancoenv.net |language=en}}</ref>           

Soil remediation consists of removing contaminants in soil, as these pose great risks to humans and the ecosystem. Some examples of this are heavy metals, pesticides, and radioactive materials. Depending on the contaminant the remedial processes can be physical, chemical, thermal, or biological.           

Water remediation is one of the most important considering water is an essential natural resource. Depending on the source of water there will be different contaminants. Surface water contamination mainly consists of agricultural, animal, and industrial waste, as well as acid mine drainage.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-25 |title=The main three types of environmental remediation and reclamation - Anderson Engineering |url=https://www.andersoneng.com/the-main-three-types-of-environmental-remediation-and-reclamation/ |access-date=2024-04-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> There has been a rise in the need for water remediation due to the increased discharge of industrial waste, leading to a demand for sustainable water solutions. The market for water remediation is expected to consistently increase to $19.6 billion by 2030.<ref>{{Cite press release |last=LLC |first=Rationalstat |date=2023-11-27 |title=Industrial Wastewater Treatment Market to Reach US$ 19.6 Billion by 2030, Driven by Stringent Environmental Regulations and Growing Demand for Sustainable Water Management Solutions {{!}} According to RationalStat |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2023/11/27/2785883/0/en/Industrial-Wastewater-Treatment-Market-to-Reach-US-19-6-Billion-by-2030-Driven-by-Stringent-Environmental-Regulations-and-Growing-Demand-for-Sustainable-Water-Management-Solutions-.html |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=GlobeNewswire News Room |language=en}}</ref>          

Sediment remediation consists of removing contaminated sediments. Is it almost similar to soil remediation except it is often more sophisticated as it involves additional contaminants. To reduce the contaminants it is likely to use physical, chemical, and biological processes that help with source control, but if these processes are executed correctly, there's a risk of contamination resurfacing.<ref name="ancoenv" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-02-27 |title=Sediment Remediation • EnvGuide |url=https://us.envguide.com/sediment-remediation-2/ |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=EnvGuide |language=en-US |last1=Eg |first1=Contributor01 }}</ref>

===Solid waste management===
[[Solid waste management]] is the purification, consumption, reuse, disposal, and treatment of [[solid waste]] that is undertaken by the government or the ruling bodies of a city/town.<ref>Retrieved June 16th, 2009. "Urban Waste Management". Retrieved June 16th, 2009. http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/237191468330923040/pdf/918610v20WP0FM0BE0CATALOGED0BY0WED0.pdf </ref> It refers to the collection, treatment, and disposal of non-soluble, solid waste material. Solid waste is associated with both industrial, institutional, commercial and residential activities. Hazardous solid waste, when improperly disposed can encourage the infestation of insects and rodents, contributing to the spread of diseases. Some of the most common types of solid waste management include; landfills, vermicomposting, composting, recycling, and incineration. However, a major barrier for solid waste management practices is the high costs associated with recycling and the risks of creating more pollution.

=== E-Waste Recycling ===
The recycling of electronic waste (e-waste) has seen significant technological advancements due to increasing environmental concerns and the growing volume of electronic product disposals. Traditional e-waste recycling methods, which often involve manual disassembly, expose workers to hazardous materials and are labor-intensive. Recent innovations have introduced automated processes that improve safety and efficiency, allowing for more precise separation and recovery of valuable materials.<ref>{{cite web |title=Advancements in E-Waste Recycling Techniques |url=https://www.sustainablereview.com/advancements-in-e-waste-recycling |access-date=2023-04-22 |publisher=Sustainable Review}}</ref>

Modern e-waste recycling techniques now leverage automated shredding and advanced sorting technologies, which help in effectively segregating different types of materials for recycling. This not only enhances the recovery rate of precious metals but also minimizes the environmental impact by reducing the amount of waste destined for landfills. Furthermore, research into biodegradable electronics aims to reduce future e-waste through the development of electronics that can decompose more naturally in the environment.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 Breakthrough Technologies 2024 |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/02/10/1075422/10-breakthrough-technologies-2024 |access-date=2023-04-22 |publisher=MIT Technology Review}}</ref>

These advancements support a shift towards a circular economy, where the lifecycle of materials is extended, and environmental impacts are significantly minimized.

=== Bioremediation ===
[[Bioremediation]] is a process that uses [[Microorganism|microorganisms]] such as [[bacteria]], [[Fungus|fungi]], plant enzymes, and [[yeast]] to neutralize hazardous containments that can be in the environment. This could help mitigate a variety of environmental hazards, including [[Oil spill|oil spills]], [[Pesticide|pesticides]], [[heavy metals]], and other pollutants.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is Bioremediation |url=https://www.hawaii.edu/abrp/biordef.html |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=www.hawaii.edu}}</ref> Bioremediation can be conducted either on-site ('in situ') or off-site ('ex situ') which is often necessary if the climate is too cold. Factors influencing the duration of bioremediation would include to the extent of the contamination, environmental conditions, and with timelines that can range from months to years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Is Bioremediation, and How Does It Work (With Examples)? |url=https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bioremediation.asp |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=Investopedia |language=en}}</ref>

===Examples===
*[[Biofilter|Biofiltration]]
*[[Bioreactor]]
*[[Bioremediation]]
*[[Composting toilet]]
*[[Desalination]]
*[[Thermal depolymerization]]
*[[Pyrolysis]]

==Sustainable energy==
{{main|Sustainable energy}}
[[File:Net Zero Court.jpg|thumb|right|Net Zero Court zero emissions office building prototype in [[St. Louis, Missouri]]]]

Concerns over pollution and greenhouse gases have spurred the search for sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel use. The global reduction of greenhouse gases requires the adoption of energy conservation as well as sustainable generation. That environmental harm reduction involves global changes such as:

* substantially reducing methane emissions from melting perma-frost, animal husbandry, pipeline and wellhead leakage. 
* virtually eliminating [[fossil fuels]] for vehicles, heat, and electricity. 
*carbon dioxide capture and sequestration at point of combustion.
* widespread use of public transport, battery, and fuel cell vehicles 
* extensive implementation of wind/solar/water generated electricity 
* reducing peak demands with carbon taxes and time of use pricing{{cn|date=April 2024}}.

Since fuel used by industry and transportation account for the majority of world demand,<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Global Transportation Demand Development with Impacts on the Energy Demand and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in a Climate-Constrained World|first1=Siavash|last1=Khalili|first2=Eetu|last2=Rantanen|first3=Dmitrii|last3=Bogdanov|first4=Christian|last4=Breyer|date=October 12, 2019|journal=Energies|volume=12|issue=20|pages=3870|doi=10.3390/en12203870|doi-access=free }}</ref> by investing in conservation and efficiency (using less fuel), pollution and greenhouse gases from these two sectors can be reduced around the globe. Advanced energy-efficient [[electric motor]] (and [[electric generator]]) technology that are cost-effective to encourage their application, such as [[brushless wound-rotor doubly fed electric machine|variable speed generators]] and [[efficient energy use]], can reduce the amount of [[carbon dioxide]] (CO<sub>2</sub>) and [[sulfur dioxide]] (SO<sub>2</sub>) that would otherwise be introduced to the atmosphere, if electricity were generated using fossil fuels. Some scholars have expressed concern that the implementation of new environmental technologies in highly developed national economies may cause economic and social disruption in less-developed economies.<ref>Eric Bonds and Liam Downey, ""Green" Technology and Ecologically Unequal Exchange: The Environmental and Social
Consequences of Ecological Modernization in the World-System" in:  Journal of World-Systems Research, Volume 18, Issue 2 (http://jwsr.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/jwsr/article/view/482)</ref>

===Renewable energy===
{{main|Renewable energy}}
[[Renewable energy]] is the [[energy]] that can be replenished easily. For years we have been using sources such as [[wood]], [[sun]], [[water]], etc. for means for producing energy. Energy that can be produced by natural objects like the sun, wind, etc. is considered to be renewable. Technologies that have been in usage include wind power, hydropower, solar energy, geothermal energy, and biomass/bioenergy. It refers to any form of energy that naturally regenerates over time, and does not run out. This form of energy naturally replenishes and is characterized by a low carbon footprint. Some of the most common types of renewable energy sources include; solar power, wind power, hydroelectric power, and bioenergy which is generated by burning organic matter.

===Examples===
[[File:Roadster 2.5 charging.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Tesla Roadster (2008)]] was the first all-electric sports car for sale and in serial production. It can completely recharge from the electrical grid in 4 to 48 hours depending on the outlet used.]]
*[[Energy saving modules]]
*[[Heat pump]]
*[[Hydrogen fuel cell]]
*[[Hydroelectricity]]
*[[Ocean thermal energy conversion]]
*[[Photovoltaic]]
*[[Solar power]]
*[[Wave energy]]
*[[Wind power]]
*[[Wind turbine]]

==== Renewable Energy Innovations ====
The intersection of technology and sustainability has led to innovative solutions aimed at enhancing the efficiency of renewable energy systems. One such innovation is the integration of wind and solar power to maximize energy production. Companies like Unéole are pioneering technologies that combine solar panels with wind turbines on the same platform, which is particularly advantageous for urban environments with limited space. This hybrid system not only conserves space but also increases the energy yield by leveraging the complementary nature of solar and wind energy availability.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gifford |first=Georgia |date=2016-05-14 |title=Five energy innovations revolutionizing the developing world |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ref.2016.05.001 |journal=Renewable Energy Focus |volume=17 |issue=3 |pages=97–98 |doi=10.1016/j.ref.2016.05.001 |bibcode=2016REneF..17...97G |issn=1755-0084|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Furthermore, advancements in offshore wind technology have significantly increased the viability and efficiency of wind energy. Modern offshore wind turbines feature improvements in structural design and aerodynamics, which enhance their energy capture and reduce costs. These turbines are now more adaptable to various marine environments, allowing for greater flexibility in location and potentially reducing visual pollution. The floating wind turbines, for example, use tension leg platforms and spar buoys that can be deployed in deeper waters, significantly expanding the potential areas for wind energy generation<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Asim |first1=Taimoor |last2=Islam |first2=Sheikh |last3=Hemmati |first3=Arman |last4=Khalid |first4=Muhammad |date=2022-01-14 |title=A Review of Recent Advancements in Offshore Wind Turbine Technology |journal=Energies |language=en |volume=15 |issue=2 |pages=579 |doi=10.3390/en15020579 |doi-access=free |issn=1996-1073}}</ref>

Such innovations not only advance the capabilities of individual renewable technologies but also contribute to a more resilient and sustainable energy grid. By optimizing the integration and efficiency of renewable resources, these technologies play a crucial role in the transition towards a sustainable energy future.

===Energy conservation===
[[Energy conservation]] is the utilization of devices that require smaller amounts of energy in order to reduce the consumption of electricity. Reducing the use of electricity causes less fossil fuels to be burned to provide that electricity. And it refers to the practice of using less energy through changes in individual behaviors and habits. The main emphasis for energy conservation is the prevention of wasteful use of energy in the environment, to enhance its availability. Some of the main approaches to energy conservation involve refraining from using devices that consume more energy, where possible.

===eGain forecasting===
Egain forecasting is a method using forecasting technology to predict the future [[weather]]'s impact on a building.<ref>Taesler, R. (1990/91) Climate and Building Energy Management. Energy and Buildings, Vol. 15–16, pp 599 – 608.</ref> By adjusting the heat based on the weather forecast, the system eliminates redundant use of heat, thus reducing the energy consumption and the emission of [[greenhouse gas]]es.<ref>[http://ip.com/patent/US6098893 United States Patent 6098893] Comfort control system incorporating weather forecast data and a method for operating such a system (Inventor Stefan Berglund)</ref> It is a technology introduced by the [[eGain International]], a Swedish company that intelligently balances building power consumption. The technology involves forecasting the amount of heating energy required by a building within a specific period, which results in energy efficiency and sustainability. eGain lowers building energy consumption and emissions while determining time for maintenance where inefficiencies are observed.

=== Solar power ===
{{excerpt|Solar power}}

==Computational sustainability==
{{excerpt|Computational sustainability}}

=== Sustainable Agriculture ===
[[Sustainable agriculture]] is an approach to farming that utilizes technology in a way that ensures food protection, while ensuring the long-term health and productivity of agricultural systems, ecosystems, and communities. Historically, technological advancements have significantly contributed to increasing agricultural productivity and reducing physical labor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Role of Technology in Sustainable Agriculture {{!}} Radcliffe's IPM World Textbook |url=https://ipmworld.umn.edu/hutchins |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=ipmworld.umn.edu}}</ref>

The [[National Institute of Food and Agriculture]] improves sustainable agriculture through the use of funded programs aimed at fulfilling human food and fiber needs, improving environmental quality, and preserving natural resources vital to the agricultural economy, optimizing the utilization of both nonrenewable and on-farm resources while integrating natural biological cycles and controls as appropriate, maintaining the economic viability of farm operations, and to foster an improved quality of life for farmers and society at large. Among its initiatives, the NIFA wants to improve farm and ranch practices, [[integrated pest management]], [[rotational grazing]], [[soil conservation]], water quality/wetlands, [[Cover crop|cover crops]], crop/landscape diversity, [[nutrient management]], [[agroforestry]], and alternative marketing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sustainable Agriculture Programs {{!}} NIFA |url=https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/sustainable-agriculture-programs |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=www.nifa.usda.gov |language=en}}</ref>

==Education==
Courses aimed at developing graduates with some specific skills in environmental systems or environmental technology are becoming more common and fall into three broad classes:
*''[[Environmental Engineering|Environmental Engineering or Environmental Systems]]'' courses oriented towards a civil engineering approach in which structures and the landscape are constructed to blend with or protect the environment;
*''[[Environmental chemistry]]'', ''sustainable chemistry'' or ''environmental chemical engineering'' courses oriented towards understanding the effects (good and bad) of chemicals in the environment.  Such awards can focus on mining processes pollutants and commonly also cover biochemical processes;
*''Environmental technology'' courses are oriented towards producing electronic, electrical, or electrotechnology graduates capable of developing devices and artifacts that can monitor, measure, model, and control environmental impact, including monitoring and managing energy generation from renewable sources and developing novel energy generation technologies.

==See also==
{{Portal|Environment|Earth sciences|Ecology|Renewable energy|Technology}}
{{div col|colwidth=24em}}
*[[Appropriate technology]]
*[[Bright green environmentalism]]
*[[Eco-innovation]]
*[[Ecological modernization]]
*[[Ecosia]]
*[[Ecotechnology]]
*[[Environmentally friendly]]
*[[Environmental sustainable innovation]]
*[[Green development]]
*[[Groasis Waterboxx]]
*[[Ice house (building)]]
*[[Information and communication technologies for environmental sustainability]]
*[[Pulser Pump]]
*[[Smog tower]]
*[[Sustainable design]]
*[[Sustainable energy]]
*[[Sustainable engineering]]
*[[Sustainable living]]
*[[Sustainable technologies]]
*[[Technology for sustainable development]]
*[[The All-Earth Ecobot Challenge]]
*[[Windcatcher]]
*[[WIPO GREEN]]
{{div col end}}
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book | publisher = [[OECD]] | isbn = 978-92-64-11561-3 | title = OECD Studies on Environmental Innovation Invention and Transfer of Environmental Technologies. | date = September 2011 }}

==External links==
{{Wikiversity|Appropriate technology Designs}}

{{Environmental technology|state=expanded}}
{{Environmental science}}
{{Sustainability}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Bright green environmentalism]]
[[Category:Environmental technology| ]]
[[Category:Sustainable technologies|*]]
[[Category:Energy economics]]