Attitudes towards sustainability are slowly improving and people are starting to think about the big picture instead of focusing on the small changes we can make at home. That’s where the concept of a smart city comes into play. New technology and innovative design methods are paving the way for sustainable cities that are completely self-sufficient. 

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There are already places in the world that are completely self-sufficient but if large cities are to follow suit, they need to make use of a lot more new technology and come up with clever solutions to common energy issues. The good news is, a lot of that technology is already in existence or is at least being developed right now. These are the technologies that will power the sustainable smart cities of the future. 

Renewable Energy 

All self-sufficient cities need power, which is why renewable energy is one of the most important technologies we have developed in recent years. Although renewable energy sources like wind and solar are nothing new, there are a lot of new technological applications that are making it more efficient, so the idea of a completely self-sufficient city becomes much easier to achieve. As renewable energy tech continues to improve and organizations like Thunderbolt Energy facilitate the deployment of that tech , we edge ever closer to the dream of a world powered entirely on clean energy. 

Lighting Options 

Cities need lighting options, and this is a big issue because they use a lot of energy. However, there are some brilliant solutions out there, some of which are already in use. The easiest way to cut the energy demand is to use solar LED street light fixtures instead of traditional street lights. They charge during the day and then use the stored power to light areas at night. LED lights are incredibly efficient, so they only need to store a small amount of power. 

There is also some exciting research into the possibility of bioluminescent trees. Although still in the early stages, scientists believe they can create trees with leaves that will glow at night as a result of luminescent bacteria. These could be used to light the streets without any need for electricity at all. 

Smart Roads 

The development of new smart road technology is set to make the roads much safer and help make cities more sustainable at the same time. Solar roads are likely to have the biggest impact because it allows for huge areas of a city to be covered with solar panels, generating lots of electricity and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. 

Self-healing concrete will also have a huge impact. Researchers are currently attempting to use bacteria to create concrete that can automatically fix cracks and holes in the road. Not only will this make life easier for local authorities and save them money, but it will also help the environment. If roads can be preserved for longer without needing to be replaced, that adds up to a significant reduction in emissions. 

Nobody knows for sure what the future holds, but it’s likely that these technologies will be vital in the quest to build sustainable smart cities.