From Guest Blogger Maya Rodgers: How Green Tech is Changing the World, and Why it’s Not Enough

In the time of 400ppm, global warming or “climate change” skyrocketing, and when oil magnates are controlling vast swaths of the US, the environment has become a hot-button issue for many on both sides of the divide.

When the Great Pacific garbage patch (perhaps even twice the size of the continental US) is poisoning our wildlife, and superstorms are wiping out our greatest cities, personal changes and technology are at the forefront of leading our society into the future.

(Photo: baby albatross killed by eating plastic, courtesy of Chris Jordan)

Increased knowledge of the environment and the way humans affect it has led to the development of eco-friendly systems and technologies. Ranging from nanotechnology, to how cars are manufactured and powered, these advances make it possible to decrease the greenhouse gasses we emit while living healthier lives.

One of the most common examples is Energy Star. Energy Star appliances are a household name, if not a staple in every home. For over twenty years, these energy-efficient appliances have been decreasing energy usage while saving users time and money.

However, the green movement goes far beyond appliances to some very exciting and unexpected places.

Do It Yourself

The DIY movement has a huge online following in pretty much every aspect of home maintenance and creativity. However, DIY technologies could bring an even deeper meaning to the term. Take DIY toilet paper for example – the White Goat machine takes unwanted office paper and turns it into fresh rolls of toilet tissue! You can even create a mini-garden with a moss carpet for your bathroom floor, if you’re so inclined. Or, for a day on the beach, you might also try to make your own battery power by wearing a solar bathing suit.

All these technologies are exciting and can drastically reduce waste, but unless green technology is incentivized and valued, the adoption of such technology will likely be limited and sporadic.

Change Your Sheets!

One particularly intriguing application of nanotechnology is in greening the pest control industry. Pests are as old as time and almost as hardy – cockroaches, for example, have been around for at least the past 150 million years. Because pests are so tough, they’re hard to get rid of, and people often look for alternatives to the traditional pesticides, which generally aren’t too green. Along with many green pesticides which are being used today, other – more science-fictiony – options are being investigated and discovered.

Bed bugs are a big (yet small) problem, especially for the hotel industry which has recently been hit hard. Fortunately, Stony Brook University researchers recently manufactured a fabric with threads 50 times thinner than human hair which traps bed bugs in their tracks. Expecting to get a delicious bite of person, bed bugs are instead entangled in the fabric, preventing them from reaching their food source.

Want to Phone Home?

Smart phones are ubiquitous, and have enabled creative eco-minded developers to put healthier living right into our palms. Whether you’re debating with an unenlightened environmental naysayer or trying to figure out the biggest energy suckers in your home, there’s an app for that!

Or, perhaps, you’re interested in making sure your wallet supports your goals and your health. Watch what you eat, check what plastics you’re microwaving, and even teach your kids about the environment, all for free on your phone. And, for even more firepower, there’s an app that makes calling your elected representatives (or, more likely, their aides) as easy as pie.

Critical Considerations

Of course, small changes such as adjusting your buying habits and taking public transit can make a huge difference in the effort to make the world a little greener. Being more mindful of your consumption, making sure to recycle early and often, along with starting a garden or visiting a farmers’ market are wonderful ways to make a difference.

However, we also need widespread, lasting change for a deeper impact; this kind of change requires people acting in concert as a unified whole. If you’re passionate about the environment, whether your child has asthma or you don’t want your city wiped off the planet, it’s vital to get involved. Look into organizations like 350.org, talk with and meet your elected representatives, and encourage your friends to join with you. After all, green technology is undoubtedly critical to our future on this planet, but it’s also crucial that we generate the popular will to use our innovations.

Author bio: Maya Rodgers is a small-time environmental activist who is looking for ways to get more involved in saving the environment. When she isn’t thinking about how to save the planet, she does a lot of work in pest extermination, tries to green her dog and her family, and sometimes blogs about it all at www.petsandpests.com. Her experience behind her blog comes from exterminating at Terminix, spending time with family, and trying to live an extraordinary life.