Sustainable Green IoT: Energy Harvesting for Smart Cities

The exceptional expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed connectivity and automation throughout various sectors, yet it has also triggered a significant increase in energy usage, intensifying worries about environmental sustainability. Green IoT (G-IoT) appears as an innovative response, effortlessly incorporating energy-efficient computing methods, creative energy harvesting approaches, and optimized resource management techniques to considerably diminish the carbon emissions of smart devices. This paper investigates the wide range of energy harvesting techniques—such as solar, RF, piezoelectric, and thermoelectric—and analyzes their impactful role in allowing IoT devices to function sustainably without dependence on conventional power sources. Additionally, it considers how G-IoT can be utilized in smart city frameworks, promoting energy-efficient urban administration through smart resource allocation and renewable energy incorporation. By utilizing low-power communication standards and environmentally friendly design principles, G-IoT provides a sustainable foundation for IoT implementation that harmonizes technological progress with ecological stewardship. The paper wraps up by discussing the major obstacles obstructing G-IoT implementation and suggesting future research paths to improve the sustainability of energy-efficient IoT systems within smart cities. Keywords: Green IoT, G-IoT, Sustainability, Green Computing, Smart Cities, Energy Efficiency