The solution is not just technological, but a combination with behaviors is necessary: the case of LEDs

To address climate change, we often tend to overestimate the fundamental role of technology. The reality is that technology puts in our hands increasingly powerful and refined tools, but their effectiveness always depends first of all on how we move our hands. The diffusion of LED lighting is a relevant example in this regard. The extraordinary range of this lighting system is evident in terms of reducing energy consumption and CO₂ emissions. Data recorded by the first satellite developed to record nighttime lighting on the planet, however, showed that, from 2012 to 2016, outdoor lighting grew by 2.2% per year. The situation clearly varies from countries to countries, but it seems to be linked to the lower energy cost of the lighting systems. The environmental impacts and the lesson to be drawn in similar contexts are evident. A growth of energy production from renewable sources is not efficient if we do not keep an eye on what is displayed on our counter of consumes. Click here for the abstract of the original article.