Question

Explanation of reasons why wireless electricity and energy harvesting could cut waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Answer 1

Wireless electronicity is the first of those technologies. Electric toothbrushes and some smartphones already rely on this technology. To recharge the devices, just place them on a special base or pad. Some electric car models can also recharge using wireless electricity while parked in their garages. Even more exciting are experimental vehicles that can recharge on the road, thanks to electronics buried under part of the roadway. That technological advance could eliminate two big downsides to electric vehicles: the worry about running out of power and the wait to recharge drained batteries.

Energy harvesting is the next technology. It could help us go truly cord-free. Energy harvesting taps into energy that’s already moving through our surroundings. The technology grabs that energy in the form of radio waves and microwaves and converts it to electricity. That power could run small gadgets and maybe even larger household appliances. Devices could charge themselves without our ever doing a thing.

Together, these technologies would free us from the bother of plugging in all our electronics. They also could cut waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.