Opportunities and Challenges Amid Digital Innovation
There is a strong relationship between digital innovation and sustainability. So while digital technology such as data analytics, digital communication, artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), and advanced robotics present the potential to enhance sustainability, there are also major challenges when people embrace the digital economy.
The delicate dance of successfully leveraging the opportunities offered by the digital economy while minimizing environmental concerns like carbon emissions and air and water pollution is fundamental. The following are efforts related to the digital economy and sustainability—both opportunities and challenges:
By providing innovative renewable energy approaches, digital technologies successfully address issues including climate change, air and water pollution, and
solid waste management. A foundational example is businesses using digital technologies to monitor, manage, and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of renewable energy installations. In addition, utilities are implementing smart grids that use digital technology to better control energy distribution and increase the use of renewable energy sources.
In the digital economy, technological advancements also help promote production methods that help reduce energy usage. For example, 3D printing is a digital manufacturing technology that encourages demand production rather than mass production. This approach reduces waste while improving operational performance.
We now have the ability to examine substantial amounts of information—both historical and real-time data. This helps us make better decisions. The availability of advanced tools for measuring and monitoring environmental effects is one example. New analytical technologies provide more accurate information concerning greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and water usage.
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Further, organizations, like ASME, arm themselves with information that allows them to find specific areas where they can implement environmental reduction measures and make an impact. This method has the potential to yield enhanced resource efficiency, reduced energy consumption, and increased use of renewable energy.
People who live in cities are responsible for almost two-thirds of the world’s carbon emissions. But the digital economy offers technology to build smart cities that promote “sustainable urbanization.” This improves the quality of life for residents while reducing negative environmental impacts. Another example is the ability of municipalities to install sophisticated sensors to track energy use, traffic patterns, and air quality. Officials can analyze and interpret the data gathered to make informed resource management decisions.
The action of a building’s occupants leads to a loss of about 30 percent of its energy. Beyond direct tools, municipalities can use digital communication to increase public awareness and promote ways to change behavior and enhance energy efficiency. Moreover, these same tools can communicate with the general public to direct people to sustainable resources, including public transportation, green areas, and recycling.
The circular economy and sustainable consumption tackle the problem of waste management by embracing sustainable behaviors such as reuse, recycle, repair, and remanufacture. Experts theorize that with the implementation of the circular economy mindset, people have the ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70 percent for individual nations.
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In addition, the implementation of innovative technologies, like the IoT, has the potential to enhance the efficiency of resource use. For example, individuals can actively track real-time data covering resource usage, allowing them to identify inefficiencies and potential ways to recoup such things as heat or water.
Because of the rapid pace of the innovation of the digital economy and the new technologies that come about, there is increased electronic waste. This trash and garbage pose substantial environmental and health hazards. Exacerbating the situation is the lack of effective e-waste management systems that promote non-toxic biodegradability.
Unsustainable solutions that are common include disposal of electronic garbage in landfills or exporting it to developing nations. Moreover, extraction of valuable elements from existing components often creates wastewater problems from acid baths and air pollution caused by open-air burning. Some of the most problematic elements include mercury, polybrominated flame retardants, lead, barium, cadmium, and lithium, which possess significant health ramifications for neighboring populations.
Ironically, services that are essential to the digital economy, such as data centers, streaming, and cloud services, lead to higher energy usage. This situation then leads to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. The digital economy uses a lot of electricity to support operations, maintain facility temperatures, and ensure backup power availability.
Meanwhile, the technology itself—phones and other mobile devices—necessitate the extraction and processing of raw materials, manufacturing operations, and transportation that all need energy. That means the problems that come with high energy consumption such as carbon emissions are growing. Some entities do impose energy-efficient solutions in conjunction with innovation, while others search for innovative methods that reduce emissions beyond just looking for cleaner sources of energy or cutting energy use.
Cathy Cecere is membership content program manager.
The delicate dance of successfully leveraging the opportunities offered by the digital economy while minimizing environmental concerns like carbon emissions and air and water pollution is fundamental. The following are efforts related to the digital economy and sustainability—both opportunities and challenges:
Renewable energy
By providing innovative renewable energy approaches, digital technologies successfully address issues including climate change, air and water pollution, and
In the digital economy, technological advancements also help promote production methods that help reduce energy usage. For example, 3D printing is a digital manufacturing technology that encourages demand production rather than mass production. This approach reduces waste while improving operational performance.
Analytics and big data
We now have the ability to examine substantial amounts of information—both historical and real-time data. This helps us make better decisions. The availability of advanced tools for measuring and monitoring environmental effects is one example. New analytical technologies provide more accurate information concerning greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and water usage. Discover the Benefits of ASME Membership
Further, organizations, like ASME, arm themselves with information that allows them to find specific areas where they can implement environmental reduction measures and make an impact. This method has the potential to yield enhanced resource efficiency, reduced energy consumption, and increased use of renewable energy.
Sustainable urbanization
People who live in cities are responsible for almost two-thirds of the world’s carbon emissions. But the digital economy offers technology to build smart cities that promote “sustainable urbanization.” This improves the quality of life for residents while reducing negative environmental impacts. Another example is the ability of municipalities to install sophisticated sensors to track energy use, traffic patterns, and air quality. Officials can analyze and interpret the data gathered to make informed resource management decisions. The action of a building’s occupants leads to a loss of about 30 percent of its energy. Beyond direct tools, municipalities can use digital communication to increase public awareness and promote ways to change behavior and enhance energy efficiency. Moreover, these same tools can communicate with the general public to direct people to sustainable resources, including public transportation, green areas, and recycling.
Sustainable consumption
The circular economy and sustainable consumption tackle the problem of waste management by embracing sustainable behaviors such as reuse, recycle, repair, and remanufacture. Experts theorize that with the implementation of the circular economy mindset, people have the ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70 percent for individual nations. More For You: Podcast: Don't Neglect the Caster
In addition, the implementation of innovative technologies, like the IoT, has the potential to enhance the efficiency of resource use. For example, individuals can actively track real-time data covering resource usage, allowing them to identify inefficiencies and potential ways to recoup such things as heat or water.
Electronic waste
Because of the rapid pace of the innovation of the digital economy and the new technologies that come about, there is increased electronic waste. This trash and garbage pose substantial environmental and health hazards. Exacerbating the situation is the lack of effective e-waste management systems that promote non-toxic biodegradability. Unsustainable solutions that are common include disposal of electronic garbage in landfills or exporting it to developing nations. Moreover, extraction of valuable elements from existing components often creates wastewater problems from acid baths and air pollution caused by open-air burning. Some of the most problematic elements include mercury, polybrominated flame retardants, lead, barium, cadmium, and lithium, which possess significant health ramifications for neighboring populations.
Carbon emissions
Ironically, services that are essential to the digital economy, such as data centers, streaming, and cloud services, lead to higher energy usage. This situation then leads to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. The digital economy uses a lot of electricity to support operations, maintain facility temperatures, and ensure backup power availability. Meanwhile, the technology itself—phones and other mobile devices—necessitate the extraction and processing of raw materials, manufacturing operations, and transportation that all need energy. That means the problems that come with high energy consumption such as carbon emissions are growing. Some entities do impose energy-efficient solutions in conjunction with innovation, while others search for innovative methods that reduce emissions beyond just looking for cleaner sources of energy or cutting energy use.
Cathy Cecere is membership content program manager.
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