483
are important in this context; they include improved solar cells for
renewable solar energy and other energy-related systems that promise
higher efficiencies with reduced pollutants, such as fuel cells.
It is also widely appreciated that making products that use less
energy to begin with will not only help better utilize limited energy
resources, it will have many additional environmental benefits as
well. Huge amounts of energy, for example, are used in the operation of lighting in our homes and workplaces. More efficient lighting technologies based on nanotechnologies would have enormous
environmental benefits. It has been estimated, for example, that
improving the efficiency of lighting in the United States by 10%
would ultimately reduce carbon emissions by some 200 million tons
per year. Possible improvements via better fuel efficiencies in automobiles are obviously enormous. In earlier parts of this book we also
covered an array of other kinds of nano-based products, including
thin films and nanoporous insulation materials that can all directly
lead to reduced energy consumption. These many product innovations should not be forgotten as we think about the environmental
benefits of developments in the nanomaterial sphere.
Energy is expended not only in using products but in producing
them as well. Many processes that create products also create enormous amounts of waste in one form or another. The generation of
waste is not only energy inefficient—the wastes themselves can be
hazardous. Abandoned industrial sites that remain highly polluted
because of inappropriate disposal of chemical and other wastes are
still with us today, reminding us of the need to pay special attention
to the problem of waste. Many industry groups have gone a long way
toward mitigating these problems through the adoption of more
efficient production means and sophisticated control technologies,
but the problems remain present in many parts of the world.
Pollution prevention approaches based on the implementation
of practices for improving energy utilization as well as reducing
waste creation would go a long way toward improving the health
of our environment and hence human health itself. Within this
broad arena, nanotechnologies are poised to play a significant
and positive role. The improved properties of nanomaterials can
allow designers and engineers to create smaller and lighter products that not only use energy more efficiently but that may reduce
energy amounts needed for production. Chapters 9 and 10 repeatedly noted that the use of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies
allows products to be more efficient. In comparison with conventional approaches, nano-based products for use in connection with
Environmental Benefits and Impacts
are important in this context; they include improved solar cells for
renewable solar energy and other energy-related systems that promise
higher efficiencies with reduced pollutants, such as fuel cells.
It is also widely appreciated that making products that use less
energy to begin with will not only help better utilize limited energy
resources, it will have many additional environmental benefits as
well. Huge amounts of energy, for example, are used in the operation of lighting in our homes and workplaces. More efficient lighting technologies based on nanotechnologies would have enormous
environmental benefits. It has been estimated, for example, that
improving the efficiency of lighting in the United States by 10%
would ultimately reduce carbon emissions by some 200 million tons
per year. Possible improvements via better fuel efficiencies in automobiles are obviously enormous. In earlier parts of this book we also
covered an array of other kinds of nano-based products, including
thin films and nanoporous insulation materials that can all directly
lead to reduced energy consumption. These many product innovations should not be forgotten as we think about the environmental
benefits of developments in the nanomaterial sphere.
Energy is expended not only in using products but in producing
them as well. Many processes that create products also create enormous amounts of waste in one form or another. The generation of
waste is not only energy inefficient—the wastes themselves can be
hazardous. Abandoned industrial sites that remain highly polluted
because of inappropriate disposal of chemical and other wastes are
still with us today, reminding us of the need to pay special attention
to the problem of waste. Many industry groups have gone a long way
toward mitigating these problems through the adoption of more
efficient production means and sophisticated control technologies,
but the problems remain present in many parts of the world.
Pollution prevention approaches based on the implementation
of practices for improving energy utilization as well as reducing
waste creation would go a long way toward improving the health
of our environment and hence human health itself. Within this
broad arena, nanotechnologies are poised to play a significant
and positive role. The improved properties of nanomaterials can
allow designers and engineers to create smaller and lighter products that not only use energy more efficiently but that may reduce
energy amounts needed for production. Chapters 9 and 10 repeatedly noted that the use of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies
allows products to be more efficient. In comparison with conventional approaches, nano-based products for use in connection with
Environmental Benefits and Impacts