Among the many touted benefits of nanotechnology, one of the most alluring is the possibility that it will help reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Researchers and industry analysts foresee lighter and more efficient vehicles and wind turbines, solar panels that capture more of the sun’s energy, smaller and longer-lasting batteries, better insulation, and smarter lighting, to name a few nanotechnology prospects, some already on the market. But a new report from the conservation group Friends of the Earth (FOE) criticizes the vision of a clean-energy revolution brought about by engineered nanomaterials as so much greenwash and claims the young technology’s carbon, environmental, and human-health footprints are likely to eclipse any energy savings.
展开▼
