Green by design: The role of smart technologies in environmental protection and sustainability

Abstract:

Urbanisation grows at an erroneous rate through decades projected to continue in future. Both opportunities and complex challenges go hand in hand for this sustainable development. Although only a 2% share of land throughout the globe is occupied by cities, they are responsible for 60–80% of global energy consumption. Therefore, innovative approaches to urban sustainability is the need of the hour. Rapid urban growth intensifies pressures on daily essentials like housing, transportation and infrastructure while aggravating environmental problems such as air and water pollution and climate-related impacts including heatwaves, floods, and storms. Moreover, the uneven distribution of urban benefits often deepens social and economic inequalities.

The present review highlights the fact that smart technologies and green urban design play a important role in progressing environmental protection and sustainability. Integrating technology with environmental principles improves resource efficiency and resilience, quality of life while fostering inclusivity and community engagement. Smart technology includes use of smart grids, solar panels and LEDs to manage energy consumption, smart traffic signalling and smart parking systems to reduce congestion and smart water conservation system for efficient waste water management. This paper explores the concept of “Green by Design,” as an approach to create alternatives that have minimal impact on environment and create cities that are equitable, resilient, and ecologically sustainable.