Developing green energy systems for third world people, or others with less technological resources, provides us the opportunity to re-evaluate our own sources of energy and its use. This perspective allows us to identify areas of inefficiencies in our own system; and provides an incentive to improve our own infrastructure, resulting in quantifiable benefits. In this way, developing appropriate technology for others is a (w)holistic experience because we benefit from a process that is helping others at the same time.
Designs that are performed with special consideration to the environmental, ethical, cultural, social, political, and economical aspects of the community that it is intended for, has been described as “appropriate technology”. Wikipedia states it this way, “In practice, appropriate technology is often something described as using the simplest level of technology that can effectively achieve the intended purpose in a particular location.”
A state of the art water treatment facility constructed in a remote location without reliable access to maintenance supplies, nor the skilled labor to perform the maintenance operations, is not an appropriate technology. There are examples of complex water treatment facilities breaking down in remote locations, then the local community shutting down the facility to revert back to their water treatment methods of the pre-facility-construction state. The facility designers did not consider whether or not there would be a local solution available in the event of the breakdown or maintenance need. Because the technology was not appropriate, the facility, constructed with great cost and effort, ends up totally ineffective.
Now, designers realize the importance of considering what technology is appropriate for an application; and realize that advanced technology is not appropriate in all cultures, but green technology is because there is almost always a local solution to a problem. Local solutions are sustainable, insure a long life for the technology.
Below is a short list of organizations involved in designing appropriate technology for others. Take a moment to consider the project titles and appreciate the tremendous positive impact the projects must have on the people they serve.
Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group
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Solar Hot Water Heater Promotes Health in Childcare Center -
Dry Composting Toilets to serve 300 in Petite Anse, Haiti -
Improved Stoves for three Guatemalan communities -
Waste to Energy and Sanitation in Cap Haitien, Haiti -
Clean Renewable Electricity in Guatemalan Highlands
The Appropriate Technology Collaborative
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Solar Refrigeration -
Biogas: -
Agricultural and animal waste can be converted to methane using a simple technology called a biodigester
International institute for sustainable development
National center for appropriate technology
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