Eco-friendly technology

Good morning to Mr Wang, Madam Hana, Madam Malathy and my fellow friends. Before I
start my speech, here’s a question for you to ponder. Does technology save or destroy the
environment? People see the relationship with Earth as a battle between nature and
technology that can only have one winner. In fact, technologies of tomorrow will not be in
opposition to our planet, Mother Earth. Now, eco-friendly technology, that is a pretty big idea.
Let me define it for you. It simply means using science and technology to protect the
environment. Today, I would like to share with you how technology actually brings enormous
effect to the environment in three major ways namely efficient use of renewable energy,
reduction of harmful wastes as well as air and water purification.

First of all, eco-friendly technology encourages the use of renewable energy sources
to the optimum including solar, wind, waste-to-energy technologies and hydropower. These
power sources increase the energy efficiency of many products, which means that they
consume less amount of energy than other products of a similar function and quality. We
cannot deny that we are using electrical appliances each and every day. But do you realize
that how many fuel you need to burn in order to generate electricity for these appliances to
work? Through eco-friendly technology, we take a more friendly alternative way to generate
power that contributes to a great amount of energy saving and benefits to our environment.
Let us take a look at this. Engineers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have designed
incredible wooden floorboards that use electro-magnetic induction to generate electricity
from footsteps. So, if you invite friends over for a party, you are simultaneously creating
electricity and you could save a lot on your electricity bills. In short, we no longer rely on bad
old fossil fuel to generate energy, instead technology offers us very reliable, sustainable and
eco-friendly energy source.

In addition, eco-friendly technology also helps in reducing harmful waste generated

by human activities. Harmful waste refers to greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants
that harm our environment as the result of open burning, illegal dumping, deforestation and
so on. A good and closely-related example would be plastic bag. In light of the 2015
statistics that there are five trillion pieces of plastic pollution in the ocean. A simple walk on
the beach, or anywhere and the plastic waste is present. To tackle this, Avani Company in
Indonesia comes out with an edible, compostable and drinkable plastic bag which is
biodegradable and thus guarantees a plastic-free life in the long run. Besides, electric car
starts coming into mainstream in many countries which greatly tackle air pollution problem
by decreasing the emission of carbon dioxide from car exhaust pipes. Technology makes it

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possible. In fact, technology offers environmental solutions for disposal and recycling of
waste. It effectively changes waste production in a way that it doesn’t harm our environment.

Last but not least, eco-friendly technology purifies air and water which are the basic
necessities of human life. As we all know, trees in the forest clean the air by acting as giant
filters, removing harmful particles and pollutants as well as provide us with clean water
sources. However, due to the Industrial Revolution, humans cut down trees, burn forests,
use pesticide excessively, and dump untreated waste into rivers and lakes. As such, air and
water are under assault from numerous types of pollution and no longer safe for us. Imagine
that you and I are unknowingly coming into contact with these invisible and harmful particles
in our drinking water or the air we breathe in every day. Along with technology advances, in
city area with very little and limited space, technology enables people to build vertical forest,
where the balconies and rooftops are covered by trees and plants. As a result, pounds of
carbon dioxide are transformed into oxygen and fine dust particles are filtered out.
Furthermore, technology ensures waste water is being treated and disinfected before it is
discharged into mainstream to make sure it is safe and clean to be used for other purposes.
In short, eco-friendly technology provides clean air and water for us and our environment.

To conclude, just as the Industrial Revolution sparks an increase in pollution, the

technological revolution is responsible for its fair share of environmental hazards and waste.
Eco-friendly technologies innovations will continue have a tremendous impact on our
environment by increasing energy efficiency, reducing the emission of pollutants and
purifying the air and water in everyday life. A famous writer, Leo Tolstoy once said, “One of
the first conditions of happiness is that the link between man and nature shall not be broken”.
Let us all be ready and start to see what technology can do for us and our environment. So, I
guess we all have the same answer now. Eco-friendly technology saves our environment.

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References

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Goddard, G. (2017). Exciting new green technology of the future. Retrieved on 13 July 2018,
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Harikishore Kumar Reddy & S.M. Lee. (2012). Water Pollution and Treatment Technologies.
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Ray, A. (2017). Asia's first vertical forest may be the solution to all pollution problems. The
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green/slideshow/57056103.cms

Rogers, S. A. (2011). What is eco-friendly technology? Mother Nature Network. Retrieved on

15 July 2018, from https://www.mnn.com/green-tech/computers/stories/what-is-eco-
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