Technology for the Environment

Trends: Our Vanishing Options
Global warming is already a reality. What remains uncertain is how it will play out over the next few decades. Will we face a climate disaster,or will we be able to somehow master the situation? We still have a chance to determine our destiny by developing and implementing efficient, energy-saving technologies
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Facts and Forecasts: The Sources of Greenhouse Gases
About one third of the approximately 40 bill. t of CO₂e that are emitted annually around the world as greenhouse gases comes from agriculture, forestry, land clearing measures and waste. More than two-thirds of the greenhouse gas emissions are energy-related, meaning they are caused by people’s energy consumption. The emissions result from electricity generation in power plants, generation of heat, and fuel combustion by transport vehicles
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Cutting Emissions
Interview with the physicist Prof. Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, Director of the Institute for Climate Impact Research in Potsdam
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Energy Efficiency: How Cities Can Save a Fortune
A broad range of energy-efficient solutions and technologies that could rapidly and substantially reduce power consumption in a modern industrial country are already available. A study of a hypothetical city—the world champion in energy efficiency—provides insight into how such solutions could work in practice
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Building Systems: Working Smart in China
Siemens’ new headquarters in China shows that, thanks to advanced building systems, environmental protection and economic efficiency go hand in hand
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Power Generation: Zero-Emission Power Plants
The zero-emission power plant is no longer a fantasy. Filters are becoming increasingly sophisticated, removing dust and other harmful substances from exhaust gases. And in the future, new power generation technologies should prevent emissions of carbon dioxide getting into the atmosphere. Enhanced measurement methods and more efficient power distribution are also helping to ensure cleaner air
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Energy from Waste: Treasures in the Trash
You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, but when it comes to garbage, you can do a lot better than just burying it. Siemens is involved in developing three pioneering facilities that turn trash into fuel
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Fuel Cell Power Plants: Hybrid Future
Fuel cell power plants are on the way. Prototype installations have proved their reliability, and Siemens now plans to build a megawatt-class hybrid plant by 2012 that will achieve 70-% efficiency. Costs are expected to be dramatically reduced by that time
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Energy for Tomorrow: Earth, Fire, Wind and Water
Siemens has a long tradition of developing sources of power for the future. Back in 1978, the company supplied the generators for the world’s biggest hydroelectric power plant, in Itaipú. Today, Siemens is a leader in many types of renewable energy systems
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Green Transportation: Lowering Emissions
Automakers and governments want to get pollutants off the road. Solutions from Siemens are helping by making combustion engines cleaner and improving hybrid cars—the forerunners of fully electric vehicles. Siemens engineers are also developing technologies to make trains and ships run cleaner
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Product Development: Going Greener
Environmental protection pays off—especially when life cycle costs and economic effects are taken into consideration from the start. The products that result are a boon to nature and help ensure business success—as demonstrated by examples from Siemens’ Eco Excellence Program
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Water Treatment: Solutions You Can Swallow
Microbes, excessive amounts of nutrients and persistent organic pollutants in water can damage our health and the environment. Siemens researchers are developing innovative processes for removing or destroying these harmful substances
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In Brief
Developments, contacts, links, literature
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