5 Energy-Efficient IoT Solutions to Curb the Carbon Footprint

Take a moment to consider what we’re leaving behind us; not a world where humanity exists at a harmonious balance with nature, but one in which nearly every aspect of this planet has been marred in one way or other thanks to the depths of carbon despair. All for the sake of “progress,” or at least a selfish and warped definition of it. Using our tools, we have deprived the earth of its natural resources.

What’s going to happen when we run out of fuel to burn and power up our routine mechanisms? Will everything which apparently gives meaning to our lives stop at a standstill? And more importantly, what will help us in the face of widespread chaos unleashed by nature as retaliation?

Such questions are often asked by environmental scientists who try their best to reduce the carbon footprint left by humanity. For this purpose, they put their heads together to come up with the sort of advanced technology which conserves energy, optimizes resource use, and makes the world a better place to live in overall.

A few such inventions, smart and automated as they are, have been grouped together within the “Internet of Things.” These devices are the foundation of a healthy and green future, as they work to reduce environmental damage and to instill a positive and constructive attitude in the heart of humanity.

Check out five such IoT solutions to energy problems!

Smog Reversal Tower

When was the last time you actually breathed in a fresh dose of air? Can’t remember, can you? Well, of course – there is almost no such thing as fresh air these days. The atmosphere is highly polluted with chemical emissions from cars, air conditioners, industrial smoke, etc. And the fact that earth’s trees are being cut down to make space for more concrete structures is doubly worse. Lack of oxygen coupled with less natural recycling of air means this human aerial waste is enough to bring smog into existence. For instance, people in China can’t even walk in the streets without wearing masks. This is how bad it has become.

The solution? An ingenious smog-free tower, created by the Dutch company Studio Roosegaarde. This automated tower pulls in the atmospheric smog from up above, thoroughly cleanses it, compresses the carbon, and then releases fresh oxygen from the bottom. It’s an architectural air-purifying wonder. 

Smart Parking Sensor

Observe a metropolis on a hot Tuesday afternoon, and what you’ll come across is a terrible traffic jam. It’s a pure mistake to drive out during rush hour. Why? The sheer number of cars stuck on the roads with their poisonous smoke ejections are enough to choke the environment. Plus, the amount of fuel that’s burnt and wasted in the jams is also quite shocking.  

That’s why to manage the space problems, smart parking solutions have been introduced. Sensors are placed underground, which track each car and match it with a perfect parking slot, highlighted with a pole. This technology then sends the information over the cloud to traffic regulating centers, and more directly to the car driver. This way, cars are parked in a most efficient way without blocking the roads, energy is saved, fuel is conserved, and the environment breathes a sigh of relief.

Energy Saving Light

From cave fires to incandescent bulbs, light has traveled a long way. It’s a necessity which allows us to be productive in the darkest of nights. But this burning of the midnight fuel has come at a price. An extra use of energy puts an extra burden on the environment to supply it. In our haste, we usually take lights for granted and leave them on. This not only wastes energy but adds a significant amount to the monthly bill.

How can this be avoided? By replacing high-watt bulbs with advanced LED smart lights. These automated lights operate over a house’s Comcast Xfinity internet network, sense your presence in the room, and shut on/off automatically, dialing down the energy use.

Waste Sorting Bin

The amount of plastic that’s collected in our seas is deeply troubling. And the way we simply dispose of wrappers, cups, and straws is contributing to this degeneration of the environment. In terms of energy, a lot of fuel is burnt up in first collecting the household garbage, then carrying it to disposal sites where it is compressed by heavy machinery.

But what if I told you about smart waste bins which cut the current energy consumption in half and make the disposal operation much easier? Yes, such things exist, working over eco-friendly solar power, which senses and compacts garbage on its own, contacts the collector over the internet to pick it up, and guides them over the safest routes. Such devices signal a clean and green future, indeed.

Efficient Thermostat

A device which controls and conserves the overall energy consumption of a household comes in the form of a smart thermostat, your very own automated temperature regulator. During the summer, we turn on air conditioners, which both take up a lot of electricity and are quite unhealthy for the environment. A thermostat can take care of this by automatically lessening the energy load every alternate hour, depending on the inhabitants’ presence, and cutting off power during peak electricity points. It is easily installed and can be controlled from your smartphone.

With such energy-efficient gadgets being invented one after another, the future of humanity does look less dismal than one would suppose.