Green Technology

The 21st century has been called the "century of the environment." Governments -and individual citizens - can no longer assume that social challenges such as pollution, dwindling natural resources and climate change can be set aside for future generations.

Through policy, research, education, incentives and forward-looking relationships with industry, government can play a central role in building a green future, community by community.

The prospects for success have never been greater. A dawning era of creativity and innovation in "green technology" (also known as "clean technology") is bringing the promise of a healthier planet - as well as the prospect of growing businesses that can sustain its health. The excitement building around this sector is reminiscent of the early years of the information technology revolution.

MD Green Technology plan is an initiative designed to inform government efforts toward sustainability, providing a forum in which government officials can communicate with those in the private sector who are developing and distributing green technologies.

About Green Technology (Examples of green technology)

Energy

Perhaps the most urgent issue for green technology, this includes the development of alternative fuels, new means of generating energy and energy efficiency.

Green building

Green building encompasses everything from the choice of building materials to where a building is located.

Environmentally preferred purchasing

This government innovation involves the search for products whose contents and methods of production have the smallest possible impact on the environment, and mandates that these be the preferred products for government purchasing.

Green chemistry

The invention, design and application of chemical products and processes to reduce or to eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances.

Green nanotechnology

Nanotechnology involves the manipulation of materials at the scale of the nanometer, one billionth of a meter. Some scientists believe that mastery of this subject is forthcoming that will transform the way that everything in the world is manufactured. "Green nanotechnology" is the application of green chemistry and green engineering principles to this field.