By in large the major problems we face when moving toward greener initiatives do not simply lie in the hands of the everyday consumer. In fact, according to the EPA and their examination of greenhouse gas emissions, just 28% of greenhouse emission comes from transportation (which is commonly thought of as the chief offender). While 28% is nothing to scoff at, keep in mind that this includes more than personal vehicles. It also includes shipping, flights, and other transportation emissions.
Despite our best efforts in moving toward greener technologies it’s apparent that it’s the infrastructure that is holding us back.
Every four years the American Society of Civil Engineers creates a report card that "depicts the condition and performance of the nation’s infrastructure" which comes in the form similar to one you would find with a school report card (by assigning letter grades to each type of infrastructure).
See this report and its executive summary for more details.
When you consider electricity (32%), transportation (28%), and industry (20%) as the major creators of greenhouse emissions you can then ask yourself a question:
- Do we have the innovation to completely renovate our infrastructure?
- Is it best to focus our effort into rebuilding our infrastructure for sustainability
We have certainly made tremendous strides in technology but a few changes to a light bulb will have little effect compared to if we go after the bigger goals.
For example:
Smart Grids – This will become a shift to bring our energy infrastructure into the 21st century by introducing computer controlled processing to our power grid. The technology will allow energy to be controlled and sent to areas that truly need it while managing parts that need less. This gigantic development has the potential to save consumers 2 trillion dollars over the next twenty years.
Sustainable Engineering – Our current infrastructure for industry is absolutely massive but many parts and systems are still reliant on outdated technology and equipment. A complete overhaul would cost unimaginable amounts of money and resources. The elegant solution is regular maintenance and sustainable upgrades. Companies like Worldwide Power Products can retrofit existing machines to reduce emmissions by converting them to a bi-fuel system which can lower fuel costs as much as 70%. An application, such as this example, across all industries would create a huge impact on reducing emissions.
Updated Public Transpiration – Americans love their cars but as our population grows it’s becoming a burden on our planet. The same is true for the amount of products we transport across land, air, and sea. A possible solution which could have an immense impact on this sector is through the reintroduction of public transportation. Recent development like Elon Musk’s Hyperloop ideas may sound science fiction but it’s gathering interest. It may also be likely that high speed bullet trains may reappear in our country.
As you can see the way to a greener future is not wholly reliant on miracle breakthroughs in technology (though they certainly help). If we could focus on revitalizing our infrastructure and embrace sustainable policies we will soon enough make a substantial impact on reducing our emissions.
Until then it’s worthwhile to each take action to contribute no matter the size and impact – just as long as the mindset becomes that of the public. With enough demand, great ideas, companies, and initiative we will certainly see sustainability in our fragile ecosystem.