As interest in sustainability grows, various terms are emerging to describe eco-friendly efforts. They overlap but are not always interchangeable.
- Green technology is a broad term. It refers to the use of research and innovation to create products and services that are less damaging to the environment and society.
- Clean technology, or clean tech, is a subset of green technology. It specifically refers to products, services or processes that use fewer resources and have a minimal impact on the environment compared to traditional technologies.
- Environmental technology refers to tech designed to improve the quality of the environment. Though it overlaps with green and clean technology, enviro tech typically applies to large-scale infrastructure projects such as water treatment plants or air filtration systems.
- Climate technology is a specific part of green technology that focuses on mitigating or adapting to climate change. It includes developments that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance carbon sinks or help societies adjust to the impacts of climate change.
- Green IT refers to technologies and practices that reduce the environmental impact of the information technology sector in particular. Sometimes called sustainable IT or green computing, green IT includes things such as energy-efficient computers or data centers.