GREEN TECHNOLOGY (R20)

UNIT- I
Introduction: Green Technology – definition- Importance – Historical evolution – advantages and
disadvantages of green technologies-factors affecting green technologies- Role of Industry,
Government and Institutions – Industrial Ecology – role of industrial ecology in green technology.
Cleaner Production (CP): Definition – Importance – Historical evolution - Principles of Cleaner
Production–Benefits–Promotion-Barriers – Role of Industry.

GREEN TECHNOLOGY
INTRODUCTION:
The conservation of resources and the environment with the aid of technology is referred to
as green technology.
Green tech is an umbrella term that encapsulates any technology that is created to be
environmentally friendly from its production line all the way to its usage. It is a continuously
evolving form of technology which aims to be less taxing to the natural resources as humans are
consuming the resources faster than it can be replenished.
The major goal of green technology is to help control climate change, protect the natural
environment, reduce our dependence on Non-Renewable resources such as fossil fuel, and heal the
damage done to the environment. Few sectors that are actively investing in this technology are
Transportation, Energy, Waste Management Sectors.
EFFECT OF GREEN TECHNOLOGY IN VARIOUS SECTORS
Nanotechnology:
Nanotechnology is the study of materials at the molecular, atomic, and densely complexed levels.
Humans' fundamental needs and expectations are required to be fulfilled by nanotechnology as it
evolves. Food, potable water, clothing, electricity, accommodations, well-being, and the climate
are all requirements for humans, necessitating computerization of every ground, increased
lifespan, and so on. Nanotechnology production that is planned and supervised contributes to
ecological protection and can therefore be classified as green technology. Green Nanotechnology
can have a major effect on nearly all sectors and fields of culture by delivering better-built,
harmless, long-lasting, smarter, and healthier items for the household, electronics, pharmacy,
transportation, agriculture, and businesses. Nanotechnology may thus be developed as a renewable
technology for a sustainable culture if it is used in a managed manner for environmental
sustainability.
Green Technology in Agriculture and Food:
Identifying a suitable methodology that is acceptable for capital production through sustainable
agriculture, researching the consequences, and suggesting national standards for making approvals
for the expansion of suitable technology are all obstacles for green technology in agriculture and
food. Inventions in farming that are based on sustainable green technologies are supposed to
resolve difficulties in the foodstuff area and increase agronomic production. Green technologies
will provide keys by precise cultivation, nano-pesticides, and low cost decentralized water
decontamination, when there is an ever-increasing ultimatum for foodstuff and suitable
nourishment.
Green Technology for Drinkable Water:
Green technologies inventions for low-cost water decontamination are expected to address the
world's potable water problem by supplying everyone with sustainable drinkable water. By 2030,
the demand for water would have grown by 60% to feed an extra 2 billion people. By the year
2050, two-third of the realm's economy will be pretentious by scarcities, based on current rates of
consumption, development, and population. Via cost effective localized water decontamination,
identifying toxins at the molecular level, and dramatically improved purification systems, green
technology will provide an explanation for this issue. This assists in the reprocessing of rainwater
into uncontaminated drinkable water, as well as the recycling of seawater into large-scale drinkable
water at a low rate.
Green Technology for Sustainable Energy:
By 2025, worldwide energy demand is estimated to rise by 50%, with natural fuels accounting for
the majority of this increase. About 1.4 billion people do not have access to energy, and 2.2 billion
depend on vegetal materials, flora, or agronomic left-over as a source of energy and warmth. By
reinventing the power network, green technologies will address the need for energy sources by
more effective lighting, energy cells, solar cells, hydrogen storing, locally disseminated power
supply, and regionalized generation and loading. Nanotechnology, as a green technology, allows
wide scale inexhaustible solar and wind energy creation and dissemination at low cost lacking
addition damage to the environment, thus leading to a clean energy approach.
Green Technology in Building Construction:
Green technology opens up exciting new possibilities in the construction industry, such as the
creation of energy-efficient, incredibly, extended, and incredibly lightweight construction
materials. Now it is possible to monitor concrete properties, appearance, and hardness by
influencing the fundamental construction of cement phases. Nano-modification also provides vital
statistics for more accurately estimating the material's operating life and understandings of how to
refine it even further.

Green Technology in Aircrafts and Space Travelling:

Space exploration would provide us with a way of detecting the wellbeing of the earth, a source
of energy, and a blank canvas for our creativity. Humans will be able to live more carefully in
space thanks to green technologies. Impulsion oils, coverings, basic fabrics, smart costumes,
sensors, and life-sustaining environments are all possible uses where green technologies can have
an effect on space travel. Green nanotechnology is expected to produce constituents that are more
effective, tougher, self-healing, and feather light than presently accessible ones.
Green Technology in Healthcare and Medication:
Human well-being is a major and important field of green nanotechnology science. Green
nanotechnology research opens up a number of possibilities for innovation in the medical industry.
Fair and simple diagnostics, creative drug delivery technologies, and faster production of new
drugs are just a few of the green technology applications in this field. Long-term and much more
controlling green nano-technology breakthroughs will restore DNA (deoxy ribonucleic acid) and
cellular impairment, as well as alter drug therapy. It's been proposed that with the right
rejuvenation therapies, people could live up to 1,000 years. Microscope machines will be able to
fly into our bodies in 30 or 40 years, replacing damaged cells and tissues and effectively
eradicating diseases.
Green Technology in Food and the Food Processing:
Finding a sustainable balance between food quantity and ultimatum that ensures the human species'
long-term survival would be one of humanity's most important challenges. Green technologies in
the foodstuff and food handling industry face tasks in reducing the generation of process-induced
contaminants, which necessitate the use of experts. Biological conservation, non-thermal
technologies, electronic and magnetic wave warming, and electrical and magnetic fields are only
a couple of the technologies available. There are potential prospects to remove process-induced
poisons in foodstuffs, and also the environmental impacts of food production and storage,
underneath the large category of nanotechnology and biotechnology.
Green Technology
DEFINITION
Green Technology is a technology which is environmentally friendly, developed and used in such
a way so that it doesn't disturb our environment and conserves natural resources. It is also known
as environmental technology and clean technology.
 Green Technology is a system that uses Innovative methods to create an environmental
friendly products.
 It uses renewable natural resources that never depletes, so future generation can also benefit
from it.
 It can effectively change waste pattern and production in a way that it won't harm the
planet.

OBJECTIVES

 To reduce the rate of growth of energy consumption while enhancing economic

development;
 To facilitate the growth of the Green Technology industry and enhance its contribution to
the national economy;
 To increase the capacity for innovation in Green Technology development and enhance
competitiveness in Green Technology in the field;
 To ensure sustainable development and preserve the environment for future generations,
  To increase public awareness and education on green technology and encourage its
widespread use Green Technology.

Goals of Green Technology

Reduce:
 Fuels
 Waste,
 Energy consumption
 Wastage of clean water
Recycle:
 Paper
 Plastic
 Cans
 Batteries
 Clothing

Refuse:
 Refuse the use of plastic bags.
Renew:
1. Renewing Energy:
 Wind power
 Water power
 Solar Energy
  Bio-fuel
2. Waste water
Responsibility:
 Don't waste electricity - Switch off electrical equipment when not required.
 Don't waste water- Never leave taps open while brushing or washing dishes.
 Don't waste fuel.
 Don't waste food - Don't cook extra food and throw, always keep in mind that there are
million in the world starving without food.
IMPORTANCE OF GREEN TECHNOLOGY
 Saving the environment and make the earth free from any danger.
 It will help reduce the use of fossil fuel.
 It encourages the concept of cleanliness, freshness as well as promotes new dimensions
 The sooner we realize the importance of using green technology, the better our planet and
its environment.
Manufacturing Sector:
 The manufacturing sector is regarded as the backbone of both social and economic
development.
 They aid in the modernization of agriculture and the reduction of people’s significant
reliance on agricultural income by offering jobs in the secondary and tertiary sectors.
 It is the main principle underpinning public sector enterprises and joint sector operations in
India that industries serve to reduce unemployment and poverty.
 By building companies in tribal and backward areas, they reduce regional inequities.
 Exporting manufactured items boosts trade and brings in much-needed foreign currency.
 Countries that convert their basic materials into a diverse range of higher-value finished
items are affluent.
 Agriculture and industry are not mutually exclusive. They’re walking hand in hand. In
India, for example, agro-industries have provided agriculture a substantial boost by
increasing productivity.
 In today’s globalized world, our sector must become more efficient and competitive, with
only the best products remaining competitive.

Location of Manufacturing Industries:

There are various factors on which the location of manufacturing industries depends:
1. Availability of suitable land at the desired price.
2. Proximity to the market.
3. Availability of adequate labor, power, and capital.
4. Good transport connectivity.
 HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF GREEN TECHNOLOGY
 The history of Green Technology began in the early 1990s when scientists began to note
the ecological impacts of coal-burning industrial plants.
 To reduce the harmful effects of the same, manufacturers altered the production processes
to produce fewer waste by-products.
 During the time of the Second World War, a huge milestone was achieved with regard to
Green Tech.
 To reduce excessive consumption and waste, more than 4,00,000 volunteers started
collecting metal paper, rubber, etc… Following the war, scientists and doctors started
warning people about the dangerous side effects of chemical pesticides and nuclear
radiation.
 Several mysterious illnesses were reported due to harmful nuclear radiation Mast people
consider this timeframe to be the beginning of the green movement that made people aware
of environmental conservation
 As time progressed, more and more government bodies started to understand the
importance of protecting environmental resources. This was also when housing waste
awareness programs started coming into the limelight.
 Another revolution was witnessed in the 1970s when the Environmental Protection Agency
was established President Richard Nixon introduced the EPA to protect human and
environmental health.
 The major objective behind this initiative was to establish clear requirements for coal
scrubbers and other clean technology to generate specific standards for waste and Pollution.

Best Examples of Green Technology

 Solar Panels
Solar energy is the first and foremost name that strikes your mind whenever you hear about green
tech. It is a renewable, non-polluted, and powerful source of nature responsible for environmental
protection. Solar panels can be installed anywhere in the world with no recurring costs for the
power they generate. Also, more use of solar panels in your homes will save you from paying
expensive electricity bills.

 LED Lighting
LEDS are 70% energy efficient and hence guarantee sustainable development LED lights are
considered extremely efficient than most other light sources as they consume less energy. With
reduced maintenance costs and rapid technological advancement, LED lights have become the best
investment for sustainable solutions.

ADVANTAGES OF GREEN TECHNOLOGY

 Does not emit anything harmful into the air.

 Can bring economic benefits to certain areas.
 Requires less maintenance so you don’t have to shell out alot of money to operate it
 Renewable which means we will never run out.
 Improves Product Design And Performance.
 Can slow the effects of global warming by reducing CO2 Emissions
 Reduces Energy Consumption: Green technology helps to reduce energy consumption by
pursuing energy efficiency in every aspect of the product lifecycle
 Reduces Waste Thanks to Recycling: It is an amazing green technology that helps to reduce
waste and at the same time, it allows to recover raw materials that can be used to create
new products.
 Reduces Water Consumption: Water is a precious resource on our planet, making sure to
not waste it is paramount. Industrial processes and households are using large quantities of
water. Green technology helps to reduce water consumption.

DISADVANTAGES or CHALLENGES OF GREEN TECHNOLOGY

 High implementing costs.

 Lack of information.
 No known alternative chemical or raw material inputs
 No known alternative process technology
 Uncertainty about performance impacts
 Lack of human resources and skills.
 The technology is still evolving and many of the products are at R&D stage. Hence people
are unaware of performance results.
 In most of the countries policies have not been finalized for the green technology based
systems.
FACTORS AFFECTING GREEN TECHNOLOGY

 Factors affecting Green Industry are waste, energy, cost, technology, emissions, time,
water, material, production, management, commitment, etc..
 In Green Concept, infrastructure, designs, and systems are made as close as possible to the
characteristics of the ecosystem, where energy utilization efficiently, materials or tools or
raw materials are used from one entity to another in a renewable input system, while at the
same time improving public welfare. The principles developed in the application of the
green industry concept are:
 Energy efficiency and renewable energy usage.
 The efficiency of resource utilization.
 Linkages to the natural systems – humans.
 Green industrial park (Residential and green industrial complexes).
 Reduction and elimination of pollution, reductions of greenhouse gas effects,
and/or the implementation of recycling.
 Conservation of natural resources.
 Compliance, training, and awareness of the environment.
Operationally, some industry can implement the green industry concept that includes,
i.e.
 Prioritize the use of renewable resources.
 Using a series of efficient and effective production processes.
 Participating in efforts to maintain environmental functions.
 ROLE OF INDUSTRY IN GREEN TECHNOLOGY
 Green Industry is a method to attain sustainable economic growth and promote sustainable
economies. It includes policymaking, improved industrial production processes and
resource-efficient productivity.
 Green technology is to protect the environment, repair damage done to the environment in
the past, and conserve the Earth's natural resources.
 Green technology has become increasingly popular in the modern age, elements of these
business practices have been in use since the Industrial Revolution. Beginning in the early
19th century, scientists began to observe the ecological impacts of coal-burning industrial
plants, and manufacturers have sought to reduce their negative environmental externalities
altering production processes to produce less soot or waste byproducts.
 The manufacturing industries convert raw materials into finished products. It makes use
of machinery or labor to manufacture the finished goods. The economic prevalence and
stand of the nation are measured by the development of manufacturing industries.
Industrial development is an important precursor for the eradication of poverty and
unemployment in our country. Industries are important to bring down regional
disparities by establishing industries in tribal and other backward areas.

GOVERNMENT AND INSTITUTIONS

 Government policy according to policy quantity, policy effectiveness and policy executive
force so that the government policy can be quantified in more detail.
 Green patent data is used to represent green technological innovation, and the fixed effect
model and panel data analysis from 2010 to 2019 are employed.
 The empirical results show that government policy has a significant direct promoting effect
on green technology innovation and the positive impact of policy quantity and policy
effectiveness on green technology innovation is greater than that of policy executive force.
 In addition, the government policy will weaken the positive effect of enterprise innovation
vitality on green technology innovation.
 Research conclusions also show that the direct and indirect effects of government policies
on green technology innovation are heterogeneous.
 The government still needs appropriately policies adapted to the local situation,
coordinated in policy quantity. Policy effectiveness, and executive force, and accelerate
the establishment of market-oriented green technology innovation environment. Different
regions also should find the right green technology innovation policy scheme for their own
regions.

INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
Industrial Ecology is the study of industrial systems aimed at identifying and implementing
strategies that reduce their environmental impact.
A primary concept of industrial ecology is the study of material and energy flows and their
transformation into products, byproducts, and wastes throughout industrial systems. The
consumption of resources is inventoried along with environmental releases to air, water, land, and
biota.
 ROLE OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY IN GREEN TECHNOLOGY

 Industrial ecology conceptualises industry as a man-made ecosystem that operates in a

similar way to natural ecosystems, where the waste or by product of one process is used as
an input into another process.
 Industrial processes, from material extraction through to product disposal, have an adverse
impact upon the environment. Industrial ecology aims to reduce environmental stress
caused by industry whilst encouraging innovation, resource efficiency and sustained
growth.
 Industrial ecology acknowledges that industry will continue operate and expand however,
it supports industry that is environmentally conscious and has less burden upon the planet.
It views industrial sites as part of a wider ecology rather than an external, solitary entity.

 Within the industrial ecology concept, industry interacts with nature and utilises the wastes
and by products of other industries as inputs into its own processes. Industrial ecology
ranges from purely industrial ecosystems to purely natural ecosystems with a range of
hybrid industrial/natural ecosystems in between.
 Covering both industrial management and technology, industrial ecology encompasses
other sustainability concepts and tools such as material flows analysis; environmentally
sound technologies; design for disassembly; and dematerialisation.
The principles of industrial ecology as defined by

 Balance industrial inputs and outputs to natural levels - manage the environmental-
industrial interface; increase knowledge of ecosystem behaviour, recovery time and
capacity; increase knowledge of how and when industry can interact with natural
ecosystems and the limitations.
 Dematerialisation of industrial output - use less virgin materials and energy by becoming
more resource efficient; reuse materials or substituting more environmentally friendly
materials; do more with less.
 Improve the efficiency of industrial processes - redesign products, processes, equipment;
reuse materials to conserve resources.
 Energy use - incorporate energy supply within the industrial ecology; use alternative
sources of energy that have less or no impact upon the environment.
 Align policies with the industrial ecology concept - incorporate environment and
economics into organisational, national and international policies; internalize the
externalities; use economic instruments to encourage a move towards industrial ecology.

The benefits of industrial ecology include: cost savings (materials purchasing, licensing fees, waste
disposal fees, etc); improved environmental protection; income generation through selling waste
or by products; enhanced corporate image; improved relations with other industries and
organisations and market advantages.
Limitations to industrial ecology include: no market for materials; lack of support from
government and industry; reluctance of industry to invest in appropriate technology; perceived
legal implications and reluctance to move to another supplier.

CLEANER PRODUCTION (CP)

Cleaner Production is defined as the continuous application of an integrated preventive
environmental strategy applied to processes, products and services to increase overall efficiency
and reduce risks to humans and the environment.
 For production processes, Cleaner Production involves the conservation of raw materials
and energy, the elimination of toxic raw materials, and the reduction in the quantities and
toxicity of wastes and emissions.
 For product development and design, Cleaner Production involves the reduction of
negative impacts throughout the life cycle of the product: from raw material extraction to
ultimate disposal.
 For service industries, Cleaner Production involves the incorporation of environmental
considerations into the design and delivery of services.
The key difference between pollution control and Cleaner Production is one of timing.
Pollution control is an after-the-event, ‘react and treat’ approach, whereas Cleaner
Production reflects a proactive, ‘anticipate and prevent’ philosophy. Prevention is always better
than cure.

IMPORTANCE OF CP

Cleaner production can help reduce the serious and increasing problems of air and water pollution,
ozone depletion, global warming, landscape degradation, solid and liquid wastes, resource
depletion, acidification of the natural and built environment, visual pollution, and reduced bio-
diversity.

Cleaner production is an ongoing process that can be applied to production processes; products; or
services; or it can be extend to cover the entire lifecycle of a product or service. Some cleaner
production techniques include:

 Changes in technology.
 Changes in input materials.
 Changes in operating practices.
 Changes in product design.
 Changes in waste use.
 Changes in maintenance.
 Changes in packaging.

Cleaner production is related to other sustainability concepts such as eco-efficiency; environmental

sound technologies; life cycle assessment; green procurement and zero emissions. For cleaner
production to succeed, senior management support, staff awareness and participation, and staff
input is required.
HISTORICAL EVALUATION
Most of the polluting industries were established when raw materials were plentiful and sinks for
disposing of wastes were also limitless. Until the 1960s, passive waste management strategies
were common and they included:
1. Foul and Flee: An environmental migration practice that involved moving from degraded sites
to the resourceful and convenient site. In the past, in the event that a place became inhabitable
due to environmental degradation, people would simply move to a new locality.
2. Dilute and Disperse: The practice was purely based on the assumption that the natural
environment had a high assimilative capacity. Therefore, industries would release effluents to
large water bodies such as seas with the assumption that the sea would somehow dilute the
effluent.
3. Concentrate and contain: The concept informs some of the common waste management
techniques such as landfills. However, it has been established that the ‘contained’ wastes often
find ways to leak to the environment.
4. End of pipe approach: It was the most preferred option in the 1970s as it involved purifying
wastes and pollutants at the end of emission pipes.
5. Onsite recycling approach: became more popular in the 1970s as it included collecting,
processing and reusing materials that would otherwise be dumped as wastes. However, in the
period after the 1990s, environmentalists were more concerned with a proactive philosophy of
anticipating and preventing wastes before they are produced. Proactive environmental
strategies seek to manage environmental issues at the source instead of reacting to them Eco
businesses favor a proactive approach to waste management.
6. Cleaner production: follows the proactive approach and fosters sustainable development by
enhancing industries to produce more with less.

PRINCIPLE OF CLEANER PRODUCTION

Cleaner production focuses on reduction of use of natural resources, thus minimizing the waste
generated from the process. It also stresses how to prevent these wastes at the source by the use of
cleaner technologies.
Cleaner production is a preventive, company-specific environmental protection initiative. It is
intended to minimize waste and emissions and maximize product output.
 Features of cleaner production
Continuous: It is a continuous environmental management approach.

Preventive: CP seeks to prevent pollution from being generated, rather than cleaning it up after it
is generated. The simple reason is that this saves costs.

Integrated: To be effective. CP should be integrated into the daily operations of a company. In

the same manner as companies do not do economic management only one time but are doing this
as an on-going integrated part of operations.

Processes, products and services: Opportunities to improve the environmental (and social and
economic) performance of a company can be identified through CP, not only by adjusting HOW
things are done (processes) but also WHAT is done (products) and WHAT SYSTEMS (services)
are applied.
BENEFITS OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
 It increases profitability,
 It can help reduce serious environmental problems such as air pollution, reduced
biodiversity, global warming, water pollution and ozone depletion,
 It lowers production costs;
 It enhances productivity;
 It provides a rapid return on any capital or operating investments required;
 It increases product yield;
 It results in improved product quality;
 It increases staff motivation;
 It relies on active worker participation in idea generation and implementation;
 It reduces consumer risks;
  It reduces the risk of environmental accidents;
 It is often supported by employees, local communities, customers and the public;
 It often leads to the more efficient use of energy and raw materials when the process is
implemented properly,
 It assists companies to avoid regulatory compliance costs;
 It leads to insurance savings;
 It provides enhanced access to capital from financial institutions and lenders;
 It is fast and easy to implement and requires little capital investment.

PROMOTION

The purpose of this Law is to promote cleaner production, raise the efficiency of utilization of
resources, reduce and avoid the generation of pollutants, protect and improve environment, protect
human health, and promote the sustainable development of economy and society.

General Provisions

 Promotion of Cleaner Production

 Implementation of Cleaner Production

 Incentives

 Legal Liability

 Supplementary Provisions

 The state encourages and promotes cleaner production

OBSTACLES (BARRIERS) TO ACHIEVING CLEANER PRODUCTION

According to Stevenson (2002) many barriers have become apparent to the achievement of CP,
even when technical information and financing are readily available. Some barriers are
institutional and others are cultural, and the specific issues will vary from country to country. Most
countries, however, encounter aspects of all the following:

 Lack of Clear Goals: national policymakers have failed to articulate clear goals and carry
out policies for the achievement of CP

 Limited Corporate Awareness: there is limited general awareness at the corporate

management or other decision-making level of the principles of CP and its inherent
advantages over strategies based solely on pollution control

 Limited Public Awareness: there is only limited pressure from the public for cleaner
industry.
  Insufficient Trained Personnel: there is insufficient human capital to evaluate,
assimilate, adapt, improve, and diffuse information on CTs and CP practices

 Incorrect Resource Pricing: Basic resources such as water, wood, and minerals continue
to be regarded as free or almost free goods

 Poor Monitoring and Enforcement: There is poor compliance monitoring and weak
enforcement of environmental regulations in many developing countries.

Internal barriers

 Traditional philosophy of CEOs (low awareness)

 Internal organization and communication (initial constraints)
 Limited information, data and expertise on waste and emissions
 Focus on end of pipe solutions and short term profits
 Inadequate cost/profit calculations CP options
 Missing, outdated or unreliable process instrumentation
 No or limited support of middle management
 No Environmental management system (EMS) to achieve continual improvement

External barriers

 Availability of investment capital

 Availability of CP technologies

ROLE OF INDUSTRY IN CP

 Cleaner production can be applied to the processes used in any industry, to the products
themselves, and to various services provided in society. For production processes, cleaner
production involves one or a combination of the following:
i. Conserving raw materials, water and energy;
ii. Eliminating toxic and dangerous raw materials;
iii. Reducing the quantity and toxicity of emissions and wastes at source
during the production process.
 Waste is considered as a product with negative economic value. Each action to reduce
consumption of raw materials and energy, and prevent or reduce generation of waste, can
increase productivity and bring financial benefits to an enterprise. The similarities between
eco-efficiency and clearer production are numerous. Like cleaner production, eco-
efficiency goes beyond pollution reduction by emphasizing value creation for the business
and society at large. Eco-efficiency includes cleaner production concepts and captures the
idea of reducing waste through process change rather than end-of-pipe approaches.
 It is obvious that cleaner production techniques are good business for industry because it
will: Reduce waste disposal cost. Reduce raw material cost. Reduce Health Safety
Environment (HSE) damage cost.