by Kiara DeVaughn

As climate change and environmental issues continue to increase, methods to help change how much damage is being done to the earth need to be introduced. Increased rainfall, mass deforestation and the extinction of many wildlife species are all problems that have become too common. New materials and technologies are always being perfected to improve the quality of our world.  

Game-changing material is being developed to help make pavement more durable from increased precipitation. “Permeable concrete,” developed by AquiPor Technologies is set out to help manage rainwater in urban communities. Its design utilizes low-carbon cement and emits less carbon than traditional concrete. It also does not require infrastructural cement plants that emit tons of carbon into the atmosphere every year. It functions by absorbing any rain or water drainage, keeping urban communities free of floods better than traditional pavement. 

Previously home to the largest landfill in the world, before closing in 2001, Freshkills Park, NY has been completely transformed. Being three times the size of Central Park, Freshkills is now a place for wildlife and education. This past October, the developers finished phase one of the project, revealing the amazing progress being made on the project. The park now includes the New Springville Greenway, the Owl Hollow soccer fields and Schmul Park. All of this is open and accessible to the public. They are continuing to work on other aspects of the park and hope to bring education on habitat restoration and allow areas for scientists to conduct research. However, New York is not the only place incorporating infrastructural changes. 

In Texas, a 3D-printed house was recently completed, with it being part of the largest community of 3D-printed homes to be introduced to the world. Walls were printed using concrete-based materials and homes are to be one story. The developers in this area are part of a bigger project called Wolf Trail in Texas and allowed buyers to tour the completed home, ending up with many lots being sold. The homes range from three to four bedrooms and 1,500 to 2,100 square feet. 3D homes are great in helping stray away from deforestation for wood-built homes. These homes are also more sustainable since they all rely on solar panels for electricity, unlike traditionally built homes. 

With roadkill being an increasing problem, “green bridges” are being developed in the UK. More than a million animals are killed daily and over eight billion dollars in vehicle damage and hospital bills are caused by animal-induced accidents. Green bridges are being built over major roads with immense traffic that house varying native vegetation to avoid any more harm or damage caused by these accidents. The goal is to make them appear as a natural part of the landscape and help animals pass safely to the other sides of these roads. Doing this also helps humans avoid any animal-caused accidents/traffic buildups, making the roads safer to travel. These bridges have also been developed near the Trans-Canada highway to help elk, moose, bears and cougars migrate safely and initiate highway conservation. 

These innovations using reduced and more sustainable materials tackle the problem of increasing harm done to the environment, and the effects it has on humans and animals. Bringing more attention to these projects will help influence others to do their best in making more sustainable choices in their daily lives. With an increase in new conservational methods, projects like these are sure to make a positive impact on the earth’s future.