Description

Smart environment approaches involve the use of technologies to monitor, evaluate, and ultimately reduce our negative impact on the environment. By incorporating smart technologies into urban systems such as water, energy, and waste management, we can effectively monitor, predict, and control these systems. For instance, greenhouse gases and air pollutants are responsible for accelerating the effects of climate change and contributing to bad air quality in cities. Energy consumption is one of the most relevant sectors in cities in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, and we can address this issue through the integration of renewable energy sources, dynamic energy management solutions, and the optimal operation of energy storage through ICT solutions. We can monitor CO2 emission and air quality through the installation of mixed and mobile air quality and meteorologic sensors that track pollution levels in real time.

As another example, in Stockholm an automated waste collection system based on colour codes was introduced to facilitate sorting and promote recycling. Similarly, sustainable and inclusive urban development can be achieved through smart solutions such as the AvaLinn application developed by Tallinn where citizens can share their views and ideas about planned brown site developments in the city. Copenhagen also developed a software application that supports the decision making of local municipalities by describing the local buildings and the expected impact of their energy-efficiency renovation based on urban data. Overall, smart solutions can significantly contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly urban lifestyle.