Biomimicry and the Fight Against Climate Change

 

I don't know if you've heard, but climate change is still a thing. In fact, it's still a pretty big thing. With greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane running amuck in our atmosphere, and unsustainable practices persistently common, humankind is running out of time to fix the mess we've created. We need a solution, a breakthrough of some sort, that'll help us reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create a more sustainable society... But, what if I told you that solution was in front of us all along? Enter: biomimicry!  

You know what they say about guys with big carbon footprints... they've got small consciences.  

Biomimicry is an innovative branch of design which imitates the forms and functionality of natural organisms. As nature is the greatest designer, it's no wonder that natural organisms are the greatest models off which to base designs. In recent years, there have been some really creative people out there using biomimicry to create sustainable projects that could help in the fight against climate change. A great example of this is the work of Mick Pearce on the Eastgate Centre in Zimbabwe - a shopping centre based off cacti and termite mounds! 

Try not to be inspired by this gorgeous feat of architecture

Absolutely exemplifying sustainable biomimicry: the Eastgate Centre 

A lot of energy is needed to cool buildings in Zimbabwe due to its intense climate. In order to address this issue and reduce the amount of energy used and greenhouse gases emitted, Mick Pearce turned towards termite mounds for inspiration. Termite mounds have a chimney-like design, which creates a ventilation system that allows the mound to stay cool during the day, and warm during the night. Mimicking this design through the use of actual chimneys, pipes, and tunnels, the Eastgate Centre does not rely on energy-intensive mechanical cooling, as it uses the surrounding climate to regulate its own internal temperature. Saving both money and energy, the Eastgate Centre is a brilliant example of how biomimicry can be used to create sustainable civilisations. Of course, buildings of this sort will still need a certain measure of energy to function, which means energy production needs to be made more sustainable too. Well, biomimicry can help with that as well!

The windmills of the ocean: bioWAVE

Inspired by ocean life such as kelp, biowave technology uses the movement of ocean water to produce electricity. The white, blimp-looking blades are mounted on a pivot and placed on the ocean floor; the pivot is then manoeuvred by the push and pull of the ocean waves, creating kinetic energy which is converted into electricity through a hydraulic mechanism found within the device. It's useful to think of biowave technology as the wind turbines of the sea - a non-invasive and sustainable energy production technology. Not only is this technology sustainable and highly beneficial to humanity, it is also not harmful to the ocean environments its placed in! 

Lastly, you gotta remember that the atmosphere is already filled with human-caused greenhouse gases, and removing these gases from the atmosphere is something many people are trying to figure out ways to do. Carbon sequestration and storage is one of the most popular solutions to this problem, and it, too, can be done through biomimicry! And it looks amazing. 

Wakanda's national tree 

What you're looking at is a Treepod, from the Treepod Initiative, and it doesn't mimic just any tree - it mimics the Dragons-Blood Tree. If that isn't the coolest name you've ever heard... then, man, you must live a cooler life than me. The Dragons-Blood Tree was chosen not for its awesome name, but because of its wide-spanning crown and intricate branch patterns which allows it to provide large shade coverage without compromising wind flow. Atop the branches, you can see solar panels - which convert light into electricity - and provide power for the carbon dioxide sequestration system inside the trees, allowing the Treepod to absorb more CO2 than natural trees. Hoping to create a network of Treepods throughout the city of Boston, the Treepod Initiative is a fascinating initiative to watch.

I've never before had so much respect for a tree 

Climate change isn't going to go away overnight - many of the challenges we face today will likely still be around in the future - but it's good to remember how innovative people truly are. There are people fighting against climate change, trying to make the world more sustainable. And it's comforting to know that these people aren't afraid to take inspiration from the greatest designer of all time - nature.