It’s called the “Internet of Things,” a term coined by Procter & Gamble exec Kevin Ashton in 1999. It means an interconnected web of appliances, devices, cars, and other technology that are able to “talk” to each other and share data. Considering the vast reach and scope of the internet, adding a bunch of “things” to it may not sound all that sustainable. The last thing the Earth and our busy lives need is more stuff. But, like it or not, the Internet of Things is on its way.

Green America doesn’t suggest you overload your home with wireless devices, due to the health concerns around electromagnetic frequency radiation. But maybe there’s a way to harness some of the new (non-wireless) tech for good.

Up-and-coming roads, for example, could help the world harness enough clean, renewable energy to meet all of our power needs and them some.

New devices aimed at upping energy- and water-efficiency save precious resources and save homeowners money. 
Innovative ways of harnessing solar power for your home—from solar windows to solar paint to flexible, stick-on solar panels—can make it easier for every homeowner to go solar.

And don’t forget that in our previous issue of the Green American, bestselling author Paul Hawken and the scientists at his new nonprofit Project Drawdown said that better methods of refrigeration, at home and commercially, is the number one solution for drawing down greenhouse gas emissions and solving the climate crisis. Our associate editor Eleanor Greene takes a deep dive into how that could be done.

Green Americans undoubtedly know that buying new devices, appliances, and cars just to get in on the latest fad can be hugely wasteful. It can also adversely impact workers, as overseas factories may cut corners on worker safety and implement forced overtime hours—without extra pay—to meet high demand. But our editors took a look at some of the new tech that’s either just launching or coming soon, and some of it could help society take the next step toward a cleaner, greener future.