It\u2019s because the system PoW<\/a> consumes a lot of energy. To mine new coins, the specialized device (ASIC machine) must solve a very complex math problem. It\u2019s so complex that even the computer struggles to find the solution and, in the process, consumes large amounts of electricity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e07\u4e00\u4f60\u4e0d\u77e5\u9053 a lot of electricity is usually equal to more pollution,\u00a0depending on where that energy came from. <\/strong>According to the Cambridge Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index (\u4e2d\u6b27\u56fd\u9645\u5de5\u5546\u5b66\u9662<\/a>), Bitcoin consumes more annual energy than Finland and Belgium, but much less than China, the US, and the gold mining industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coal and other fossil fuels are common sources of electrical power worldwide. Therefore, if the energy to mine PoW cryptos comes from coal, that\u2019d mean more damaging emissions to the planet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, we have ASIC machines<\/a>. They were specifically designed for crypto mining and nothing else. However, they won\u2019t last a lot of time because the difficulty of mining is always increasing. Once the useful period ends (around 1.5 years), they can\u00a0\u6210\u4e3a\u7535\u5b50\u5783\u573e<\/a>. But all of this can be solved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s check some useful ways to reconcile Bitcoin with the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We already mentioned it: it all depends on the energy source. Power coming from hydroelectric stations, wind and solar farms, geothermal bases, nuclear power plants<\/strong>, and, generally, every source that doesn\u2019t produce damaging emissions is welcome. The Bitcoin miners<\/a> are, indeed, looking for places where clean energy is available and overabundant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The overabundant part is also important. In a lot of places worldwide, the energy produced by local companies is so abundant that is mostly wasted. An oversupply<\/a> can even cause grid congestion and produce blackouts. The miners could use this extra power and stabilize the grid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Besides, if it doesn\u2019t work anymore in certain places (like what happened with the China crypto ban<\/a>), miners can migrate. As the CBECI states:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn their quest for cheap and abundant energy sources, miners can set up new facilities fairly quickly all over the world, including the most remote areas. As a result, Bitcoin miners can tap into so-called \u2018stranded\u2019 energy assets that cannot easily be put to productive use by other industries. In those cases, Bitcoin miners are not competing with other industries or residential users for the same resources, but instead soaking up surplus energy that would otherwise have been lost or wasted.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, to make Bitcoin and all the crypto industry environmentally friendly, Energy Web created the Crypto Climate Accord<\/strong>. Over 250<\/a> crypto companies, NGOs, and individuals are supporting this initiative for \u201cpowering crypto with 100% renewables\u201d by 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and carbon credits are quite similar. Their goal<\/a> is to promote and invest in the production of renewable energies and green initiatives, even if the buyer doesn\u2019t produce any by themselves. The RECs are issued and sold by renewable suppliers: they represent proof that 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity was generated from renewables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, for example, a company could buy some RECs to offset electricity use from non-renewable sources. Meanwhile, the carbon credits let the investors contribute a certain monetary amount to green projects<\/a> for each ton of carbon dioxide released by them into the atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those concepts are being applied inside the crypto mining industry and beyond<\/strong>. The Sustainable Bitcoin Protocol<\/a> (SBP) was born with this goal. Miners worldwide can send their application to be certified sources of bitcoins issued from renewables. Then, the platform provides a new kind of REC: one Sustainable Bitcoin Certificate (SBC) for every BTC they mine. SBCs are sold to institutional investors who want to acquire Bitcoin<\/a> while respecting the environment-related regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, we have the carbon credits, not only available to the miners. Any crypto company or individual could buy as many as they want, in order to offset their carbon footprint. For instance, we have Regen Network Development<\/a>, an American blockchain software development company. They bought $1 million in carbon credits to conserve urban forests in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite its original purpose and short life, ASIC machines can provide something valuable for everyone \u2014beyond new coins, of course. We mean heat. The mining process consumes a lot of energy and produces a lot of heat.<\/strong> Miners worldwide are developing their own cooling methods, from air cooling to immersion cooling. After all, excessive heat can damage the machines, but it\u2019s more than a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All that heat can be repurposed<\/a> in several ways. Personal miners are building their own heating systems for winter. They can heat spaces and water in this way. Even a hot tub<\/a> and steaming pools have been made from the wasted heat of ASIC machines. Bitcoin and the environment can be very compatible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Bitcoin.environment-energy-consumption\"](\"https:\/\/alfacash.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Country-ranking-and-Bitcoin-energy-consumption.-Source-CBECI.jpg\")
Using renewables and wasted energy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\u6bd4\u7279\u5e01-\u7279\u65af\u62c9\u7eff\u8272\u80fd\u6e90\"](\"https:\/\/alfacash.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/light-bulb-984551_1280-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRECs and credits to offset Bitcoin in the environment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"bitcoin-environment-co2-credits\"](\"https:\/\/alfacash.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/coins-5971086_1920-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRecycling ASICs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n