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Environmental technology (orenvirotech) 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 asphotovoltaics,wind turbines, etc.[1]
Water purification is the process of removing undesirable chemicals, biological contaminants, suspended solids, and gases fromwater. The goal is to produce water that is fit for specific purposes. Most water is purified and disinfected for human consumption (drinking water), but water purification may also be carried out for a variety of other purposes, including medical, pharmacological, chemical, and industrial applications. The history of water purification includes a wide variety of methods. The methods used include physical processes such asfiltration,sedimentation, anddistillation; biological processes such asslow sand filters orbiologically active carbon; chemical processes such asflocculation andchlorination; and the use of electromagnetic radiation such asultraviolet light.
Water purification can reduce the concentration of particulate matter includingsuspendedparticles,parasites, bacteria,algae, viruses, and fungi as well as reduce the concentration of a range of dissolved and particulate matter.
The standards for drinkingwater quality are typically set by governments or by international standards. These standards usually include minimum and maximum concentrations of contaminants, depending on the intended use of the water.
A visual inspection cannot determine if water is of appropriate quality. Simple procedures such asboiling or the use of a householdpoint of use water filter (typically withactivated carbon) are not sufficient for treating all possible contaminants that may be present in water from an unknown source. Even naturalspring water—considered safe for all practical purposes in the 19th century—must now be tested before determining what kind of treatment, if any, is needed.Chemical andmicrobiological analysis, while expensive, are the only way to obtain the information necessary for deciding on the appropriate method of purification.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 is a type ofwastewater treatment which aims to removecontaminants fromsewage to produce aneffluent that is suitable to discharge to the surrounding environment or an intended reuse application, thereby preventingwater pollution from raw sewage discharges.[2] Sewage containswastewater from households and businesses and possibly pre-treatedindustrial wastewater. There are a large number of sewage treatment processes to choose from. These can range fromdecentralized systems (including on-site treatment systems) to large centralized systems involving a network of pipes and pump stations (calledsewerage) which convey the sewage to a treatment plant. For cities that have acombined sewer, the sewers will also carryurban runoff (stormwater) to the sewage treatment plant. Sewage treatment often involves two main stages, called primary andsecondary treatment, while advanced treatment also incorporates a tertiary treatment stage with polishing processes and nutrient removal. Secondary treatment can reduce organic matter (measured asbiological oxygen demand) from sewage, using aerobic or anaerobic biological processes. A quaternary treatment step (sometimes referred to as advanced treatment) can also be added for the removal of organicmicropollutants, such as pharmaceuticals. This has been implemented in full-scale in Sweden.[3]
A large number of sewage treatment technologies have been developed, mostly using biological treatment processes. Design engineers and decision makers need to take into account technical and economical criteria of each alternative when choosing a suitable technology.[4]: 215 Often, the main criteria for selection are desired effluent quality, expected construction and operating costs, availability of land, energy requirements andsustainability aspects. Indeveloping countries and in rural areas with low population densities, sewage is often treated by variouson-site sanitation systems and not conveyed in sewers. These systems includeseptic tanks connected todrain fields,on-site sewage systems (OSS), andvermifilter systems. On the other hand, advanced and relatively expensive sewage treatment plants may include tertiary treatment with disinfection and possibly even afourth treatment stage to remove micropollutants.[3]
At the global level, an estimated 52% of sewage is treated.[5] However, sewage treatment rates are highly unequal for different countries around the world. For example, whilehigh-income countries treat approximately 74% of their sewage, developing countries treat an average of just 4.2%.[5]
The treatment of sewage is part of the field ofsanitation. Sanitation also includes the management ofhuman waste andsolid waste as well asstormwater (drainage) management.[6] The termsewage treatment plant is often used interchangeably with the termwastewater treatment plant.[4][page needed][7]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.[8]
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.[9] 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.[10]
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.[8][11]
Solid waste management is the purification, consumption, reuse, disposal, and treatment ofsolid waste that is undertaken by the government or the ruling bodies of a city/town.[12] 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.
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.[13]
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.[14]
These advancements support a shift towards a circular economy, where the lifecycle of materials is extended, and environmental impacts are significantly minimized.
Bioremediation is a process that usesmicroorganisms such asbacteria,fungi, plant enzymes, andyeast to neutralize hazardous containments that can be in the environment. This could help mitigate a variety of environmental hazards, includingoil spills,pesticides,heavy metals, and other pollutants.[15] 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.[16]
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:
Since fuel used by industry and transportation account for the majority of world demand,[17] 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-efficientelectric motor (andelectric generator) technology that are cost-effective to encourage their application, such asvariable speed generators andefficient energy use, can reduce the amount ofcarbon dioxide (CO2) andsulfur dioxide (SO2) 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.[18]
Renewable energy is theenergy that can be replenished easily. For years we have been using sources such aswood,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.
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.[19]
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[20]
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 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 is a method using forecasting technology to predict the futureweather's impact on a building.[21] By adjusting the heat based on the weather forecast, the system eliminates redundant use of heat, thus reducing the energy consumption and the emission ofgreenhouse gases.[22] It is a technology introduced by theeGain 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, also known as solar electricity, is the conversion of energy fromsunlight intoelectricity, either directly usingphotovoltaics (PV) or indirectly usingconcentrated solar power.Solar panels use thephotovoltaic effect to convert light into anelectric current.[24] Concentrated solar power systems uselenses or mirrors andsolar tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight to a hot spot, often to drive asteam turbine.
Photovoltaics (PV) were initially solely used as a source of electricity for small and medium-sized applications, from thecalculator powered by a single solar cell to remote homes powered by anoff-grid rooftop PV system. Commercial concentrated solar power plants were first developed in the 1980s. Since then, as the cost of solar panels has fallen, grid-connectedsolar PV systems' capacity and production hasdoubled about every three years. Three-quarters of new generation capacity is solar,[25] with both millions of rooftop installations and gigawatt-scalephotovoltaic power stations continuing to be built.
In 2024, solar power generated 7% of global electricity and over 1% ofprimary energy, adding twice as much new electricity as coal.[26][27] Along with onshorewind power,utility-scale solar is the source with the cheapestlevelised cost of electricity for new installations in most countries.[28][29]China has about half the world’s solar power.[30] Almost half the solar power installed in 2022 wasmounted on rooftops.[31]
Much morelow-carbon power is needed forelectrification and tolimit climate change.[25] TheInternational Energy Agency said in 2022 that more effort was needed for grid integration and the mitigation of policy, regulation and financing challenges.[32] Nevertheless solar may greatly cut the cost of energy.[27] Solar is important forenergy security.[33] | This articlemay incorporate text from alarge language model. It may includehallucinated information,copyright violations, claims notverified in cited sources,original research, orfictitious references. Any such material should beremoved, and content with anunencyclopedic tone should be rewritten.(November 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
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.[42]
TheNational 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 crops, crop/landscape diversity,nutrient management,agroforestry, and alternative marketing.[43]
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:
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