Climate change, over-dependence on limit
fossil-fuels for energy generation, over depletion of world’s natural
resources, and excessive production and consumption are among the biggest
environmental challenges of the 21st century. Meanwhile, nanotechnology is one
of the key technologies for the 21st century, with its broader applications,
nanotechnology would be great attraction to governments and business sectors
with a better and sustainable ecosystem and livelihood future.
Our team would like to focus on
environmental applications of nanotechnology to efficiently create and use
energy, improve water purification, reduce air pollution and construct
eco-friendly spaces to solve vital worldwide challenges.
The growing attention of nanotechnology application in
renewable energy is the most latest worldwide topic. This new emerging
technology provides great potential in energy efficient enhancement
economically and environmentally. It is believe that nanotechnology can indeed
caters the current and future sustainable energy needs and further tackles the
world energy challenges.
Nanotechnology considerably impacts in all energy
sectors for enhancing the efficient in energy conversion, reducing energy
losses during distribution, improving utilization in energy storage as well as
performing sustainability in energy supply and usage. Other than given the
efficient improvement, this “green” and “clean” technology application
optimizes the availability in energy production and leverages the economics
concerns added with environmental benefits.
Nanotechnology could aid in the
development of low-cost, high-performance water treatment systems as well as
instant and continuous ways to monitor water quality in both developing (e.g.
serious shortage of clean water in South Africa) and developed (e.g. removal of
heavy metals from industrial wastewater in China) countries.
Our team would like to address the global
opportunities and potential risks of nanotechnology water disinfection, treatment
& purification technologies all related stakeholders e.g., end-users, water
development experts, governments, nongovernmental organizations, companies,
universities and international institutions. Despite desirable benefits of
nanotechnology in water treatment, health/safety issues, law/regulation and
socio-economic concerns related to this emerging technology should also be
deeply considered.
Nanotechnology is considered to be an
effective silver bullet in tackling air pollution. European Union has even
contributed US$4.8 million for a nanotechnology project allowing people to
monitor and control air quality at low cost as air pollution is considered as
the most dangerous environmental risk affecting human health and intervening ecosystem
- According to World Health Organization, an estimated of seven million people
died because of air pollution in 2012; whilst scientists found that toxic
pollutants have led to a 50% drop in crop yields in India comparing to 1980 due
to serious air pollution.
Our study will discuss how nanotechnology
can serve as an effective measure in tackling air pollution from the detection,
prevention and reduction of problem. In spite of the benefits offered,
uncertainty and unknown risk imposed by this breakthrough technology are not
confirmed yet and it will also be covered as part of our analysis.
Nanotechnology offers much in construction
sector to move in the sustainable future. Green construction can definitely
grab the attention in global perspective. Applications of nanotechnology
in improving durability and enhancing performance of construction components,
increasing energy efficiency and safety of the buildings as well as living
comfort, those are the mainstream of green construction study.
Through investigation of its best
practices, opportunities and threats, environmental, political and economic
advantages and disadvantage, we may project an environmental friendly living
space will be made possible.
Conclusion
No doubt that nanotechnology has deeply penetrated in
our life. Meanwhile, human being is facing with an critical agenda to save our
planet. Rapid development and applications of green nanotechnology has provided
options to create a cleaner and better future. Holistic analysis will be made
to address the role of industrial players in protecting the environment from
the potential impacts of nanotechnologies in the said four industries.
Hi Team 14,
回覆刪除I would like to say that your topic is a nice choice.Because my personal individual final report is also refers to environmental protection------How cloud computing technology help to curb air pollution. So I am very interested in your topics and wondering how Nanotechnology can help environment protection. I think it will be better if you can explain how nanotechnology can help improve environment and renewable energy. I look forward to further reading your individual reports. Thanks!