Environmentalists do what they can to practice a sustainable lifestyle. They ride their bikes to work, drink out of reusable water containers and use less energy in their homes.
But what about buildings, which consume more than 40 percent of the world’s available energy, according to EcoWatch? According to the environmental news site, while a $79 billion investment opportunity would be needed to scale and create sustainable technology for buildings in the U.S., energy savings could amount to more than $1 trillion in a decade.
Some businesses and cities around the world have already started to prioritize sustainable solutions:
The Waterless Toilet: For families living in slums who don’t have access to sewage systems or improved sanitation, x-Runner Ventures is providing these families with waterless toilets. According to x-runner, the waterless toilet is helping to improve daily lives and create a cleaner, healthier environment for the entire family.
Mirror-enhanced skylight: EcoNation is helping buildings conserve energy and save money with The LightCatcher. The LightCatcher is a technology-based system that captures incoming light on rooftops, then light is reflected, filtered and amplified in a light shaft before it’s spread throughout a building. According to EcoNation, the LightCatcher ecological footprint is up to 6.6 times smaller than any traditional lighting systems.
Providing Incentives: Wecyclers in Nigeria are pushing for environmental reform by creating an incentive program for families. By using the SMS-based incentive program, families who recycles up to a kilogram of plastic bottles, plastic sachets and/or aluminum cans, can receive redeemable Wecycles points over their cell phones. Families can redeem their points for cell phone minutes, household goods and basic food items.
Check out the full list here of innovative and sustainable ideas that are making their way into cities and buildings.