What is the most promising new and up-and-coming Green technology? and why?

Question

Drake: Cold and sustainable fusion is hardly realistic at this point...

Answer 1

We don't need more technology, we need less. We already know how to harness the power of sun, wind and water. There's alway rumours around about how we have the means to make ultra efficient vehicles, but Big Industry keeps hushing up new tech. The average consumer usually has little to no choice where their power and goods come from. Most just get whatever is cheapest, and they are totally unaware of the consequences of thier consumption.

We know how to recycle, but it is very costly and should be the last resort. That's why they say Reduce, Reuse, and *then* Recycle. For example, San Francisco has passed an ordinace restricting the distribution of plastic shopping bags. You get some durable canvas bags, you reuse them, nothing to recycle, no new technology needed.

We have to develop our brain power, our mindsets and caring for Mother Earth. Not more stuff.

Answer 2

Yikes that's a broad question.  I'm going to cheat and give a few answers.

In terms of transportation, no doubt it's electric cars because they're the most efficient technology at converting stored energy to motion.

http://greenhome.huddler.com/wiki/electr...

However, I think algae biofuels are also very promising because they can produce a lot of oil on a small amount of land and are carbon negative.

http://greenhome.huddler.com/wiki/algae-...

In terms of energy production, I like solar thermal because it can utilize large empty areas of deserts and produce energy on a large scale.

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/a...

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/07/...

Answer 3

Wind energy. Because it is abundant and can't be used up, takes very little space, and no energy run. It's also clean and efficient because it produces no greenhouse gases.

People are against it because they say wind mills kill birds, which was true at first. But now manufactures are making wind mills that don't kill birds. The only down side of them is that they're kind of loud, and can ruin a view. But they are well worth it.  

Answer 4

Producing fuels from green algae is very promising since it uses photosynthesis and has very low nutritional requirements. It is a very efficient process with high yields of biomass fuel.

Answer 5

We already have nuclear power which is providing most of the planets carbon-neutral electricity right NOW and does so with excellent reliability) so I'll go with nuclear fission.

Nuclear fusion and space based solar power are promising and will probably available in a few decades (but we need to act now) although ground based solar and wind aren't a solution without better large scale energy storage (which is not as close to a sure bet as fusion and space solar is).

Answer 6

Pandemic disease, because it will wipe out most humans. That's very green.

Answer 7

Fusion; It runs on water and generates no pollutants. the amount of energy generated is incredible, if we make it happen it would mean limitless energy for everyone.

search for the Tokamak design of the fusion chamber. very interesting research on france.

Answer 8

they discovered that by potting olive oil under high pressure they can make it thicker and give it some advantages like observing  the energy from sun light and save an amount of it for later.

so u can only cover the surface of electric machines with it and they will work normally.

and also it can share the energy with the other near objects that are covered with it.

Answer 9

1) Micro-filter solar panels which are 1/1,000 the thickness of current solar energy technology and capable of storing more kilowats than any before. Furthermore, they cost a fraction of the price of contemporary home solar panels, which typically will run around $6,000 for the average American home.

2) The cultivation of micro-algae to yield algae oil for use in biodiesel fuels. The reason biodiesel--and most alternative and renewable fuels--have not taken off in the battle against petrol-based fuels is that due to feedstock shortages, mass production has yet to develop into a single, cost-effective approach. The use of vegetable crops give way to ethical debates, palm oil leads to deforestation, and waste vegetable oil--despite Americans preoccupation with mass-ingestion of fried fast foods--is not a substantial or vialbe option at $3.20/gallon for the raw but refined product. That leaves the industry with micro-algae, which yields the highest amount of gallons per acre of farm--commonly between 5,000 and 15,000 gallons per acre in contrast to corn's 18 gallons per acre or rapeseed's 127 gallons per acre. It has expedentially faster growing capabilities, creates no impact on the global food market, and requires very little attention aside from UV rays, water, and--depending upon your farming preferences--C02 and nutrients.

Answer 10

For electricity, I am all for wind farms in our area. We live in rural Michigan, and its an all around clean, long lasting, low impact and high return energy source. We just toured the windfarms this weekend, and it was amazing. Beautiful, and works well for us. In cities this isn't possible, but we can power our area that way and sell a little back to the cities.

Have also heard some about capturing the steam from factories (like a sugar beet processing faciity) and using it to heat and power greenhouses to grow local food all year round. Small things like that can make a difference if repeated around the world.