The Regeneration Renovation: How Nature-Driven Technology Could Save Our World and Wealth Part II
Regenerative Air Movement
By: Malina Gallmeyer, Helene Thibieroz at We Grow Green Tech
In this continuation of the previous article, the main topic is regenerative air solutions and their impact. Regenerative air solutions, often called clean air solutions, seek to preserve the natural quality of air by purifying air that has been contaminated. The majority of the air regeneration sector focuses on eliminating excess amounts of CO2, yet there are still other pollutants that many work to eliminate, such as particulates, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide [1]. Over the past few years, air quality and pollution has become a more important topic as it is directly linked to climate change. Climate change has a disastrous effect on the natural environment. Biodiversity can be limited by the effect of climate change, meaning ecosystems will become strained and unstable. These ecosystems are left vulnerable and susceptible to dramatic events that could potentially cause extinction or endangerment of species. However, the effects of climate change and air pollution are not exclusive to the natural flora and fauna of Earth, but also have major impacts on all humans.
“More hazardous pollutants are discharged into the air each year than are released to surface water, ground water, and land combined,” Charlene Lawson [2].
Excessive amounts of pollution in the air can lead to respiratory illness, increased risk of heart attack and strokes [1]. This is significant because six of the top ten causes of death in humans reported by the World Health Organization are related to heart or respiratory illnesses [3].
Regenerative air solutions are shifting to the forefront of the public mind, and for that reason, they are evolving into an economic opportunity. The governments of the world exemplify this trend as there are numerous economic incentives that encourage companies to pollute less or refine and revive the air. The economic incentives often benefit businesses by way of tax breaks, but they can also include subsidies as a reward for decreasing pollution [3]. The private sector is also expected to see large changes in the regenerative air market. It is predicted that by the year 2027 the global air purifier market will grow to $20.63 billion [4]. This estimation includes both small household air purifiers and those used in industrial settings to filter carbon dioxide, which helps to show how broad the issue of air purification is and that the market is extensive and holds great potential to be lucrative. Air regeneration not only has the capability to gain money for investors or companies, but it also holds the possibility to significantly decrease the amount of money lost. Health damage from air pollution is estimated to cost cities between .4% and 6% of GDP annually. The Environmental Defense Fund also states that every year air pollution cost the global economy $225 billion in lost labor income [8].
Within the air regeneration industry, there are many companies and organizations taking the first step towards clean air and all the benefits that stem from it [10]. One interesting solution that has evolved recently comes from the company Airlite. The company understands that nature is the best example of air purification and created a paint that cleans air in a process like photosynthesis.
The company, Pollution Solution, also developed an air purifying system that collects air from underneath cars on the road, purifies it and then releases it [11]. This type of innovation is particularly important as it directly focuses on a prominent source of pollution.
RainIons [12] is another developing company entering the regenerative air space. Their revolutionary technology cleans air through negative ions and precipitation, like how the Earth naturally purifies the air. Recently, a feasibility study proved that the technology in RainIons could reduce all types of air pollutants, including particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers and CO2, by 99%.
“No human being should have to breathe polluted air or have their life cut short because of a solvable problem like air pollution,” stated Mark DiCarlo, founder of RainIons.
Along with businesses creating innovative solutions, he biggest name brand that is directly connected to the regenerative air movement is 3M. They have developed a granular to add to roof shingles that rids the air of the common smog pollutants formed from nitrogen oxides [14,15]. This type of innovation is vital to the regeneration of air because it utilizes shingles, which are a plentiful resource in suburban areas and a very typical aspect of daily life, to aid trees and other plants in their work.
Using a Nature-driven innovation to resolve our air pollution may be the future of green technology and regenerative air solutions [18].
References
[1]“Criteria Air Pollutants,” EPA, 08-Mar-2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.epa.gov/criteria-air-pollutants.
[2] “Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship (MLEF),” Charlene Lawson | Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship (MLEF). [Online]. Available: https://orise.orau.gov/mlef/research-experiences/lawson.html.
[3] “Ambient air pollution: Health impacts,” World Health Organization, 25-Sep-2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.who.int/airpollution/ambient/health-impacts/en/.
[4] “Global Air Purifier Market is Expected to Reach $20.63 Billion by 2027 | Markets Insider,” Business Insider. [Online]. Available: https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/global-air-purifier-market-is-expected-to-reach-20-63-billion-by-2027-1029113309.
[5]“The top 10 causes of death,” World Health Organization. [Online]. Available: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/the-top-10-causes-of-death.
[6] International experiences with economic incentives for protecting the environment. Washington, D.C.: National Center for Environmental Economics, 2004.
[7]“What is clean air?,” Blueair, 08-Feb-2018. [Online]. Available: https://www2.blueair.com/ca/clean-air#:~:text=By breathing cleaner air, the,with breathing bad indoor air.
[8]L. Myllyvirta, “Revealing the Cost of Air Pollution in World’s Cities — in Real Time,” Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, 09-Jul-2020. [Online]. Available: https://energyandcleanair.org/revealing-the-cost-of-air-pollution-in-real-time/.
[9] E. D. F. Blogs, “Companies Need To Invest In Clean Delivery Amid Pandemic Online Shopping to Reduce Air Pollution,” EDF Health, 10-Jul-2020. [Online]. Available: http://blogs.edf.org/health/2020/07/10/companies-need-to-invest-in-clean-delivery-amid-pandemic-online-shopping-to-reduce-air-pollution/.
[10]UN Environment, “Business unusual: four innovations to clear the air,” UN Environment. [Online]. Available: https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/business-unusual-four-innovations-clear-air.
[11]“Home,” Pollution Solution. [Online]. Available: https://www.pollutionsolution.co.uk/.[11]RainIons.com, “Air Pollution Solutions,” RainIons.com. [Online]. Available: https://rainions.com/.
[12]RainIons.com, “Air Pollution Solutions,” RainIons.com. [Online]. Available: https://rainions.com/.
[13]P. Neill, “Pollution removal technology could remove 99% of traffic pollutants,” Air Quality News, 12-Nov-2019. [Online]. Available: https://airqualitynews.com/2019/10/31/pollution-removal-technology-could-remove-99-of-traffic-pollutants/.
[14]“Smog-reducing roof shingles wash away air pollution — 3M,” Improving Lives through Innovation and Action, 12-Dec-2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.3m.com/blog/en_US/improving-lives/innovation/smog-reducing-roof-shingles-help-wash-away-air-pollution/.
[15]“Shingles with 3M™ Smog-reducing Granules Named Part of the New Healthy Holmes Specification for Holmes Approved Homes Builders,” Shingles with 3M™ Smog-reducing Granules Named Part of the New Healthy Holmes Specification for Holmes Approved Homes Builders | Business Wire, 19-Feb-2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190219005682/en/Shingles-3M™-Smog-reducing-Granules-Named-Part-New.
[16]“Startup Accelerator — Hawaii & California,” Elemental Excelerator, 21-Jul-2020. [Online]. Available: https://elementalexcelerator.com/.
[17]S. Impulse, “Pure Air Zone — Solar Impulse Efficient Solution,” Hero banner. [Online]. Available: https://solarimpulse.com/efficient-solutions/pure-air-zone.
[18]“Nature might be better than tech at reducing air pollution,” ScienceDaily, 06-Nov-2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191106162534.htm.
