The Future of Climate Tech: IoT
Using the internet of things to revolutionize the way we fight climate change
“Hey Alexa, what’s the weather?” According to a study published by Adobe Analytics, 50% of smart device owners ask this question on a daily basis.
So, what makes Alexa work? The Amazon Alexa Echo is a device about the size of a can of soup that allows us to play music and ask questions remotely. In order to do this, the device has 3 main parts; the woofer (aka the big speaker), the microphone, and the LED light ring.
The woofer amplifies the sound coming out and adds a little extra bass to spice things up. This way, you can project your music across the house to annoy your family and friends.
But, how does it know what music to play? The Amazon Alexa device uses the microphone to collect input about what you want to hear, which triggers it to play the music and responds by lighting up the LED ring to let you know that she heard you. Pretty cool, right?!
Every day we use devices like Alexa that are connected to the internet to improve our day-to-day efficiency. It seems so simple to ask Alexa a question or use your Robo vacuum to clean up a mess, but not long ago this seemed like fiction.
The internet of things, a network of devices that are connected to the internet and can exchange information, has revolutionized our daily lives. Now, it’s time to take it to the next step and change the way we fight one of the biggest issues we face as humans…climate change.
What is the Internet of Things (IoT)?
IoT is, as I mentioned before, a network of devices connected to the internet that share and exchange information, and use that information to carry out processes.
Think of Alexa. You ask her who the president is, she searches the web, and she responds “Joe Biden” within a matter of seconds.
IoT allows for everyone to easily access information on the web and make informed decisions based on that. It also improves the efficiency of our day-to-day lives, helps companies improve their organization, and is super fun to use!
Why is this important?
Obviously, IoT plays a major role in our lives, but we could live without it, right? So, why is it so important? Because all of a sudden we have the ability to easily collect and share data from the physical world to the digital world!
Think about before IoT. Most of the data we collected had to be logged from the physical world to the digital world, which took time and effort that slowed down the process. By using physical devices to collect data and then seamlessly upload them onto the web, we speed up this process a lot!
How is IoT being used outside of our homes?
Apart from Alexa and Google Home, IoT plays a big role in allowing our world to operate the way it does. Using IoT for businesses and cities is called industrial IoT, basically IoT on a big scale.
Industrial IoT typically involves using a combination of sensors and devices to collect data and send it to the cloud, so it can be analyzed and used to make decisions.
For example, a large-scale industrial IoT is a smart city. Using different sensors and elements, data about weather, crime, traffic, etc. can be collected and used to improve the city!
How does information get from the device to the cloud?
So, you’re probably thinking how do we get this data to the cloud so we can use it.
First, the data is collected via sensors in the device. The data is then sent from the sensors directly to the cloud.
Once the data is in the cloud, it is aggregated, aka combined. After the data is aggregated, it can be analyzed and then used by companies or sent to other devices.
Ok, now we know about IoT, but how does this apply to climate change? I’m pretty sure Alexa isn’t going to be able to help us…
Current Challenges in Climate Tech
Before we jump into how IoT can help us solve climate change, we need to look at why it’s even necessary. Why doesn’t current climate tech cut it?
One of the biggest issues with current climate tech is that it is really expensive. Think millions of dollars. And while people do care about climate change, not enough to invest millions of dollars into technology to stop it. So even though there are plenty of ideas, there aren’t enough ideas that are feasible to implement.
Climate tech isn’t built into our economy, so the people who could pay for it don’t want to. Climate tech involves taking money away from places that could be generating money. And that is a major reason why this technology hasn’t taken off.
Another issue is that the tech that we need is still in infancy, meaning we are years away from being able to scale it commercially. A lot of climate tech is involved in technology that hasn’t been developed yet, meaning that we aren’t going to be able to produce it in large amounts soon enough. For example, biofuels. An awesome idea, but right now not at a scaleable level.
How We Can Use IoT to Fight Climate Change
Recently, a big IoT company called Ericcson released a report saying that IoT will be responsible for a 63.5 gigaton reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. So, how can IoT help us do this?
When we look at fighting climate change, one of the big things we need is data. We need to be able to recognize patterns in weather and see when changes happen across the world. We need to see when glaciers collapse and when hurricanes form. We need to be able to gather this data from hard-to-access places like the bottom of the ocean. And, we need to be able to quickly analyze this data.
The awesome thing about IoT devices is that in order to work they need sensors, and sensors allow us to collect data. This means that IoT devices are going to be super helpful in collecting a bunch of data and quickly sending it to the cloud and other devices.
All this data we collect from IoT devices can help us make better decisions that help reduce emissions and improve living conditions. Remember the smart city we talked about earlier? Well by using IoT in cities, we can make them more climate-friendly, without anyone having to control a switch.
IoT can also help us track important natural things fighting climate change, like trees. A major issue is illegal foresting and logging, but IoT can help us detect and stop these loggers, preserving trees that help take in carbon dioxide.
Another great thing about IoT is that we already have the technology, and it is at a commercially scalable level! While other climate tech is still in its infancy, IoT technology is ready to be used TODAY!
Reducing Energy Consumption
Right now, we use way more energy than we need, and that is contributing to our high emissions of greenhouse gases. Fortunately, IoT can help us with this.
IoT smart grids use sensors to detect conditions and system use in real-time, analyze the data, and then find and shut down inefficiencies. Did you leave your air-conditioning on when it is 30 degrees out? IoT can help double-check to make sure system inefficiencies stay under control, reducing our overall energy consumption.
Ecoer is a company that is using IoT sensors to optimize energy usage in HVAC systems. The sensors collect data on efficiency, temperature, and amount of energy being used to suggest optimal settings for users that reduce the amount of energy being used. These sensors also alert the company when the system is broken or in need of maintenance, ensuring that it is always in optimal condition!
Air Pollution
Another major climate change-related issue we face is air pollution. Bad air quality can cause serious life-threatening diseases and harm the environment. Using IoT sensors, we can get a real-time update for air quality across a city, and alert people when it's unsafe to go outside.
These sensors also help scientists know when the air quality is decreased, so they can find a root cause.
A real-life company fighting air pollution using IoT is Clarity. Clarity is using weather-proof sensors to gather data on air pollution, which is then sent to the company’s public cloud where the data is analyzed. The company’s machine learning algorithm analyzes the data and then creates actionable items for cities to reduce air pollution!
Decreasing Carbon Dioxide Emissions
One of the big releases of carbon dioxide is cars! The longer we sit in traffic, the more carbon dioxide is released. On top of that, public transportation can be inefficient when you’re running on a tight schedule.
Using IoT devices, smart traffics systems can be implemented that alert people the best ways to go, reduce time spent driving, and reduce delays on public transportation.
A real-life company that is reducing emissions using IoT is Optibus. Optibus uses sensors placed across cities to optimize vehicle and driver movements, decreasing time spent driving and emissions released.
Improving Agriculture and Water Access
Finally, agriculture not only contributes to climate change but also has a major impact on the quality of life of many people. Current agriculture is inefficient, resulting in food waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
IoT sensors can be used to monitor crops, which helps reduce the amount of food that is wasted due to rotting and pesticides. On top of that, sensors can also optimize water and fertilizing schedules, producing higher yields.
In terms of clean water, IoT sensors can help monitor water sources, making sure that the water is clean and that the source is efficiently using the water.
A real-life example of this is Sensus — a company using IoT sensors to remotely monitor water. The sensors collect data on water pressure, temperature, level, flow, and status. Using this data, Sensus can monitor and ensure efficient and safe water usage for all its customers.
IoT Software: Case Example
One of the most important components of IoT is the software that runs it. The software allows the data to be uploaded to the cloud and analyzed. In order to understand how this happens, let's look at how we can use AI to optimize HVAC systems.
One way that we can use AI to optimize HVAC systems is through an artificial neural network (ANN) that can predict indoor temperatures. Using this, HVAC can be optimized to keep indoor temperatures comfortable while using minimal energy.
To start, we need to collect the data. To predict indoor data accurately, information on indoor temperatures, outdoor temperatures, humidity, and solar radiation. This data is collected at 5-minute intervals throughout the day and then sent to a local server.
An ANN is a machine learning model that creates relationships between input and output parameters and then arranges the relationships in layers. This model has 3 layers; an input layer, an output layer, and a hidden layer. A hidden layer is a layer in between the input and output layer that enters a weighted input into an activation function.
This model uses the equation pictured below. Y is the output values, X is the input values and W is the weight applied to the input values.
This equation can then be used to create a correlation between the data points collected, and the indoor temperature.
The algorithm is then trained on predicted and recorded values. The result is an algorithm that can accurately predict the indoor temperature based on outdoor temperature, solar radiation, and humidity.
IoT Hardware: Case Example
Next, we need to understand the other crucial part of IoT; the hardware. In order to do this, let’s look at an IoT company’s hardware — Sensus’ VantagePoint Lighting Control Module.
Sensus’ Lighting Control Module attaches to streetlights and allows for real-time access to control the lights, optimizing energy usage and increasing safety. It also has built-in alerts when maintenance is needed.
In order to track movement (a key input for the device), Sensus’ Lighting Control Module uses Infrared sensors to detect the movement of vehicles, allowing street lights to switch on and off as the vehicle moves down the road.
The Lighting Control Module also uses a pulse-out infrared meter, which is a device that detects changes in light using infrared sensors, to turn the lights on and off at dawn and dusk.
Using GPS, the device is connected to a network of other Lighting Control Modules from Sensus, which allows it to be remotely accessed and send information to the cloud.
Once the data is collected, it is sent to Sensus’ secure cloud environment, where the data can be analyzed and used to take actions, such as turning lights on. Using the device, Sensus is creating more efficient and environmentally friendly streets!
The Future of a Climate-Friendly World
IoT gives us the potential to control the harm we are causing to the environment while improving the quality of life of people and creating cities that are more efficient.
In the future, the goal would be that everything that operates is connected to an IoT device that monitors the efficiency and environmental impact of the product or machine. Humans wouldn’t have to play a large role in monitoring the conditions of the climate because IoT devices could do this and analyze data and adjust accordingly.
Maybe, at some point there would be IoT devices that could also work as Carbon Capture, removing carbon dioxide emissions based on conditions and reversing climate change. Who knows?
IoT is a ready-to-implement solution that can help us fight climate change and improve the damage we have already caused!
TL;DR
- IoT is a network of devices connected to the cloud that gathers, transmits, and analyzes data
- Current climate tech is costly and difficult to implement
- IoT can help fight climate change by monitoring energy usage, water usage, carbon dioxide emissions, and climate conditions
- The future of using IoT to fight climate change means more efficient cities with fewer emissions
If you’ve made it this far, thank you! I am a 15-year-old who is interested in regenerative medicine, biocomputing, and public health. If you want to see me continue to grow and 10X myself, sign up for my newsletter here!
