Top Green Solutions to See In a Smart City In 2023

Everyone wants to live a more convenient life. Even before the changes brought by the pandemic, driverless trams and other smart solutions were being put in place. However, things have accelerated since then, and the smart city is becoming more prevalent as people look to transform urban areas into something more modern and, in many ways, greener. Below you will find some of the top green solutions you might see in a smart city in 2023, which are changing the world for the better.

Green buildings stand out among the sustainable green solutions implemented in a smart city. The concept of green buildings covers the entire life cycle of a building, including the planning, design, construction, and operation of a building. The goal is to bring positive effects to people and the natural environment while mitigating negative effects through multiple considerations. Some of the parameters considered during the construction of a green building include:

• The efficient use of energy and water
• Utilizing renewable energy whenever possible
• Using non-toxic materials
• Considering the environmental impact of all stages
• Ensuring a high-quality indoor environmental quality

Renewable buildings can cost less, and the value of the property increases when these measures are taken. The benefits include lower energy and water consumption and innovation that can improve performance and quality of life for the people inside the buildings.

Green urban planning includes more than buildings. Urban areas have long been filled with modern amenities, including transportation and commercial buildings. But it has come at the cost of natural and green areas, which has turned many urban areas into unhealthy environments.

Green urban planning includes decarbonization to mitigate carbon emissions, but it also means including greenery in a city’s design. That means more trees, public parks, and nature-based solutions.

Additionally, the 15-minute city model is an important consideration when planning neighborhoods. The concept calls for designs that ensure that a majority of daily necessities are reachable by walking or cycling. It reduces emissions, builds strong communities, and decentralizes core services.

Electric transportation has been growing in popularity for a long time. Electric vehicles (EVs) are more common than ever, and public transportation has transitioned to electric in many areas. But electric transportation has not been fully integrated, and there are multiple reasons for that.

Electric transportation faces challenges that include high prices, charge time, vehicle range between charges, and the availability of charging stations. However, those factors are quickly becoming less restricting, and the growth of electric vehicles is only expected to continue, making them a standout green solution for a smart city.

Smart waste management is vital as populations continue to balloon. Keeping a city clean is difficult, and there has been a long-standing struggle to properly separate waste to ensure proper recycling. Smart waste bins offer one solution, and they come with numerous features that include:

• Internal compactors
• Increased capacity
• Protection from pests
• Wireless monitoring
• Solar charging

However, there are solutions that do not require the replacement of regular waste bins with smart waste bins. Sensors have also been used to great effect in San Francisco. The sensors measure the amount of garbage to reduce overflow, illegal dumping, and street cleaning requests.

AI has also seen use in smart waste management, helping identify and separate materials during waste separation. All of it relies on networks and technology to keep cities cleaner.

Leak management reduces water waste. A single undetected leak can cause the loss of an immense amount of water, and many leaks go undetected. Smart leak management systems automatically detect leaks and making it easy to fix them. Leak management solutions even include real-time water monitoring.

Smart street lighting has the potential to drastically decrease energy expenditure for street lighting. Traditional street lights can only turn on or off. The lack of flexibility means it is always at peak voltage, and it does not take traffic into consideration. Smart street lighting offers features such as:

• Human detection
• Light intensity adjustment
• Remote monitoring for outages

The smart street lighting solution would reduce energy costs while providing more reliable citizen safety. The decreased costs of using lights only when they are needed might push cities need to build more street lighting in areas that do not currently have it.

Smart energy is perhaps the most well-known example of a green solution. However, it goes beyond wind turbines and solar panels on roofs. Smart energy includes proper renewable energy management, efficient distribution, and things like dynamic billing to ensure electricity is always available and properly managed.

Cybersecurity cannot be ignored. According to ExpressVPN, cybersecurity is vital when it comes to installing green tech in a smart city. Smart solutions, green or not, are open to cyberattacks. The connected nature of a smart city and these solutions make security even more important, with data privacy first and foremost as these solutions are implemented at scale. The Internet of Things (IoT) is vulnerable, but with the right security measures, it can make life better for everyone.