Planting trees are very important, but governments should also adopt a more effective strategy of mass cleansing the air - by installing rooftop biosolar panels in every building in urban areas.
Pollution is a major problem in today's world. Regardless of efforts made by various organizations, the government, or by some good individuals, the situation just keeps getting worse. People need to collectively make an effort to stop or reduce pollution as much as possible. It has put the world at a big risk and the life span of the planet is reducing at a fast pace thanks to mankind. One of the main areas of pollution in the air, the atmosphere in cities especially. In several cities across the world, people find it hard to even see the stars at night due to all the dust and smoke in the air. Planting trees surely help cleanse the air. Plants naturally cleanse the air for us. However, scientists recently found a better, more efficient way of doing so. They recently developed the world’s first “biosolar leaf” technology to cleanse polluted city air with shocking efficiency.
The scientists suggest that these green panels that are supposed to be placed on one's rooftop are filled with micro plants that apparently cleanse the air 100 times faster than a single tree. Researchers say that the new BioSolar Leaf system uses photosynthesis to purify the same amount of air as 100 trees. These panels even take up the same amount of space as a single tree making the deal a whole lot better. So what if we planted more trees and placed these panels on our rooftops at the same time? Doesn't that help fight air pollution in a serious way?
The BioSolar Leaf cultivation system facilitates the growth of tiny plants, such as microalgae, diatoms, and phytoplankton, across large platforms. These platforms can be installed with ease. It is very similar to installing solar panels on top of the building or in landscapes. The microscopic bits of biomass are said to use photosynthesis to suck up all the greenhouse gases that are present in the air and in turn, produce fresh, breathable oxygen. Plants do pretty much the same thing but aren't as efficient. However, this does not mean that we can ignore planting trees and use these panels instead, we still need natural air cleansers and greenery to save our planet.
We should not lose focus of all the benefits of trees and intact ecosystems, but rooftop algae growing looks like a promising addition to our city landscapes!— JustKevin (@MudKevin) April 30, 2019
This technology was developed by a startup company called Arborea in collaboration with Imperial College, London. Researchers suggest that the technology also serves to create a sustainable source of nutritious, edible food additives that can be harvested and used for plant-based nourishment. Julian Melchiorri, who is the founder and CEO of Arborea, has also been responsible for developing similar air-purifying technologies. In 2017, he was hailed for creating a “living chandelier” that used algae to suck CO2 out of the air.
Julian Melchiorri, Founder and CEO of Arborea, said, “When I founded Arborea my goal was to tackle climate change while addressing the critical issues related to the food system. This pilot plant will produce sustainable healthy food additives while purifying the air, producing oxygen and removing carbon dioxide from the surrounding environment. It will provide the opportunity to fully harness Arborea’s BioSolar Leaf dual action in real operating conditions and help to unlock the technology’s full potential.”
He continued, "In our ever-growing modern cities, cooperation between start-ups, academic institutions, and governmental bodies is critical to enable and accelerate sustainable innovation that benefits both our society and environment.”
Cllr Stephen Cowan, Leader of London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, said in a statement, “Arborea’s BioSolar leaves are set to revolutionize air quality in London and across the world. Our administration is planning to be the first to put them into our borough as we're determined Hammersmith & Fulham will lead the way in cleaning our filthy air. This cutting-edge biotech is the latest and most radical innovation to come out of the White City biotech hub – the cornerstone of the Hammersmith & Fulham industrial strategy. The Imperial campus in White City, including the I-HUB, is already changing the world, and shows what can be achieved when a council, a world-leading academic institution and business come together to lead the way and grow a local economy that works for all.”
Pollution is one of the biggest concerns in the world as it doesn't just put our lives in danger but also the lives of the future generations and other living beings around us who have done absolutely nothing to deserve this. Pollution is also one of the causes of the extinction/endangerment of several species. It goes hand in hand with global warming and this must be stopped or at least controlled if we want our planet to survive.