Eco Friendly and Innovation Friendly: Sustainable Technology Problems from Power Consumption to Jetpacks
When someone wants to argue against “eco-friendliness”, two of the most common arguments to hear are “It’s not economically sustainable” and “It’s less eco-friendly in the long run”. Indeed there are many problems that we as a species may face when taking on the task of building more sustainable technologies; however, there are just as many solutions, and the obstacles we may face are no reason to give up on our goal to save the planet in the few decades we have left to stop climate change. Here are some of the problems and solutions that are less common to hear when discussing eco-friendly innovation.
IT ISN’T ECO-FRIENDLY IF THE PROCESS TO BUILD OR OPERATE IT ISN’T
As sad as it is to think about, corporate resource exploitation, planned obsolescence, and other consumer problems don’t just disappear as issues when we make the switch to eco-friendly technology. Often these issues can erase the progress eco-friendly products seek to make on sustainability. Despite the size difference, a jetpack isn’t any better than a plane if they both use the same high-waste jet fuel; and despite the materials, sustainable-material products don’t mean a thing if they are still meant to be bought, used, and re-bought en-masse. The same goes for technologies or innovations that have a clean end-product that’s still assembled in a normal factory with normal pollution. If we want to truly work to achieve eco-friendliness, we need to think about the processes that go into our products, as well as who is making a bigger carbon footprint: the consumers, or the industries and factories.
IF A SOLUTION ISN’T ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE, DON’T TRY TO MAKE IT
This may seem like an obvious concept, but don’t put up solar panels where the sun doesn’t shine, and don’t put windmills in a windless area. If zero-emissions or completely sustainable products really will put a strain on the economy, think about taking small steps to them as goals, rather than forcing them as solutions, or look at alternative solutions. Options like consuming less normal products instead of buying excessive eco-friendly products, and using nuclear power, are not considered as much as they should be. This is especially true for nuclear power, the accidents of which are massively overstated compared to the safety issues of coal, gas, oil, and even the hazards of wind turbines (look up how many nuclear accidents there actually have been, and think about all the coal-related deaths the human race has seen). Just because the most talked about sustainable options for society are a strain on the economy, that doesn’t mean sustainability as a whole has to be.
IF IT’S EXPENSIVE TO BUY, BUY IT UNTIL IT’S CHEAPER
Don’t like the price of that sustainably-caught can of tuna as compared to the “normal” brand? Wish that you could switch the two price-tags? Well you actually can (no pun intended)! A phenomenon you might notice in things like the price drop in computer technology in the last few years, or the price hike in things no one uses anymore, is the effects of supply-and-demand on products and their prices. Simply put, if you as a consumer are willing to show the market you want that sustainably-caught or sustainably-farmed food, the food suppliers on the market will compete for your business over it, and work to get you that product in a bigger, better, and cheaper form than their competitors. While it may be a bummer to buy at a slightly higher price for now, the sooner you put your money in sustainable products, the sooner the companies competing for your business will compete over them, bringing the price down and placing new developments into the products. Who knows? You might end up with an eco-friendly product or technology even cheaper than its non-sustainable predecessor!
IF YOU STILL DON’T LIKE ECO-FRIENDLINESS, IMAGINE US WITHOUT IT
While there are some people who will stop at nothing to fight the change for eco-friendliness and sustainability, consider this; do you really want to bring about what they’re essentially fighting for? Do constant horrible weather, more pollution-related deaths, and being remembered as some of the worst and laziest people in history seem like good things? This is not some apocalypse fairy-tale, this is common knowledge of all the things climate change can do! While it may initially be an annoyance to work to be more eco-friendly, think about all the times you’ve had horrible weather. Think about spending summers in 110 degree weather. Think about how that can occur anywhere with the damage of climate change. Now alternatively, consider this; after some initial struggle to live sustainably, the weather starts to go back to normal. Summers aren’t too hot to enjoy, winters have normal snow, and no one’s dying from pollution-related diseases; everyone’s happy! How much would that cost to achieve from you as an individual? Not a million dollars, not decades of community service, not a magic lamp, just a few lifestyle changes, (and a bit of money if financially possible for you). Imagine the worst case scenario, then imagine the best, and understand, while it may not feel like it, that individual people have the power to change the world to either end - for worse or for better - starting with you!
