Appropriate TechnologyAppropriate Technology

Engr 10Engr 10

Introduction to EngineeringIntroduction to Engineering

Prepared by Pat Backer, Prepared by Pat Backer, 3/19/083/19/08

Tech Adoption Tech Adoption WorldwideWorldwide

• For the past 3 years, For the past 3 years, China has been the China has been the world’s largest world’s largest importer of ICTimporter of ICT

• In India, 50% of all In India, 50% of all urban dwellers have urban dwellers have mobile or fixed mobile or fixed telephones; however, telephones; however, only 6% of rural only 6% of rural Indians have phonesIndians have phones

Tech DiffusionTech Diffusion• Technology is Technology is

spreading to emerging spreading to emerging markets faster than markets faster than ever beforeever before

• The technology lag is The technology lag is decreasingdecreasing

• New technologies are New technologies are entering developing entering developing countries and countries and “leapfrogging” over “leapfrogging” over older technologies (i.e., older technologies (i.e., cell phones)cell phones)

Rates of Tech DiffusionRates of Tech Diffusion

• Tech diffusion is lowest in Latin American Tech diffusion is lowest in Latin American countriescountries

• Less than 2% of the business workforce in Less than 2% of the business workforce in Chile and Brazil are in ICT, Why?Chile and Brazil are in ICT, Why?– Inward-looking economic policiesInward-looking economic policies– Import restrictions on technologyImport restrictions on technology– Problems in the educational systemsProblems in the educational systems– Less money is spent on R&D: Developed Less money is spent on R&D: Developed

countries spend 2.3% GDP on R&D, East Asian, countries spend 2.3% GDP on R&D, East Asian, 1.4%. But, Latin America spends only 0.6%1.4%. But, Latin America spends only 0.6%

What is appropriate technology?What is appropriate technology?

• Appropriate technology has been used to cover a Appropriate technology has been used to cover a wide range of both technologies and lifestyles wide range of both technologies and lifestyles including sustainable living, alternative fuels, and including sustainable living, alternative fuels, and ethical technology transfers. ethical technology transfers.

• A technology is considered appropriate if it solves A technology is considered appropriate if it solves a social problem without many adverse negative a social problem without many adverse negative effects.effects.

• Every new technology has consequences for Every new technology has consequences for society. A technology is appropriate when its society. A technology is appropriate when its intended positive consequences outweigh its intended positive consequences outweigh its unintended negative consequencesunintended negative consequences

How do we evaluate appropriateness?How do we evaluate appropriateness?

• There are three ways of evaluating appropriateness: There are three ways of evaluating appropriateness: technical, cultural, and economic. technical, cultural, and economic.

– Technical--considering the technical knowledge and Technical--considering the technical knowledge and background of the people who will be using this background of the people who will be using this technology. technology.

– Cultural—the relationship of the technology to the Cultural—the relationship of the technology to the critical social systems in the society including family critical social systems in the society including family systems, religious beliefs, division of labor in a systems, religious beliefs, division of labor in a society, and levels of education and training. society, and levels of education and training.

– Economic--a technology's effect on income levels and Economic--a technology's effect on income levels and income distribution in a society and income disparity income distribution in a society and income disparity between different socio-economic groups. between different socio-economic groups.

FactorsFactors for the assessment of an for the assessment of an appropriate technologyappropriate technology

• Various factors for assessment of appropriateness would include Various factors for assessment of appropriateness would include the followingthe following11::

– What is the need?What is the need?– Is there an adequate business environment in place for this Is there an adequate business environment in place for this

technology?technology?– What is the best technical option for the transfer? (Some What is the best technical option for the transfer? (Some

issues include the requirements for operating the technology, issues include the requirements for operating the technology, repair facilities for the technology, scope of the technology)repair facilities for the technology, scope of the technology)

– What are the possible unintended negative effects of the What are the possible unintended negative effects of the technology?technology?

– What are the broader cultural, political and/or social effects What are the broader cultural, political and/or social effects of the technology?of the technology?

Everts, S. (1998). Gender and technology. Empowering Everts, S. (1998). Gender and technology. Empowering women, engendering development. New York: Zed Books, p women, engendering development. New York: Zed Books, p 34.34.

Examples of appropriate technologiesExamples of appropriate technologies

• Renewable EnergyRenewable Energy

• Smart GrowthSmart Growth

• Green BuildingsGreen Buildings

Please click on the topic above to read more about each of these appropriate technologies

Renewable EnergyRenewable Energy

• Renewable energy industries produce energy Renewable energy industries produce energy using resources such as sunlight, wind, water using resources such as sunlight, wind, water current, and organic wastecurrent, and organic waste

• Renewable sources of energy are diffuse (spread Renewable sources of energy are diffuse (spread thin) and intermittent. One example of the thin) and intermittent. One example of the diffuseness feature is that a 1000‑megawatt solar diffuseness feature is that a 1000‑megawatt solar farm might occupy about 5000 acres of land, farm might occupy about 5000 acres of land, while a nuclear power station with the same while a nuclear power station with the same generating capacity only requires around 150 generating capacity only requires around 150 acres.acres.

Examples of Renewable Energy--Examples of Renewable Energy--BiomassBiomass

• Many developing countries depend on wood and Many developing countries depend on wood and agricultural waste for energy.agricultural waste for energy.

• Almost half of India's and nearly 90 percent of Almost half of India's and nearly 90 percent of total energy consumption in several small total energy consumption in several small countries in Africa is provided by wood. countries in Africa is provided by wood.

• Sweden has increased its use of biomass Sweden has increased its use of biomass dramatically in the last ten years and presently dramatically in the last ten years and presently uses fast-growing willow trees and other organics uses fast-growing willow trees and other organics to supply 20 percent of its total energy supply.to supply 20 percent of its total energy supply.

Examples of Examples of Renewable Energy--Renewable Energy--HydropowerHydropower

Modern large Modern large hydropower plants are hydropower plants are very expensive to very expensive to build; however, build; however, hydropower is not hydropower is not distributed equally distributed equally around the world. around the world. In the US, about 10 percent of the total electricity is In the US, about 10 percent of the total electricity is

generated from hydropower. It has dropped since the generated from hydropower. It has dropped since the 1940s when 40 percent of the electricity in the US 1940s when 40 percent of the electricity in the US was hydropower.was hydropower.

Disruption of the environment is the major reason Disruption of the environment is the major reason why there are fewer hydropower plants being built why there are fewer hydropower plants being built today. today.

Top Hydroelectric Generating Countries. Source: Energy Information Administration, US Department of Energy.

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Brazil

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Russia

Norway

India

Japan Sweden

France

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150

200

250

300

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Examples of Renewable Energy--Examples of Renewable Energy--Geothermal EnergyGeothermal Energy

• The Philippines has the highest percentage of power The Philippines has the highest percentage of power generated from geothermal sources; 22 percent of generated from geothermal sources; 22 percent of its electricity is generated with geothermal steam. its electricity is generated with geothermal steam.

• The percentage of geothermal is high (at least 10-20 The percentage of geothermal is high (at least 10-20 percent of the total) in four other countries: Costa percent of the total) in four other countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Kenya, and Nicaragua.Rica, El Salvador, Kenya, and Nicaragua.

• Central America, parts of Southeast Asia, and the Central America, parts of Southeast Asia, and the western United States have the greatest potential western United States have the greatest potential for major reliance on geothermal energy. Promising for major reliance on geothermal energy. Promising sites also exist in parts of southern Europe and East sites also exist in parts of southern Europe and East Africa.Africa.

Examples of Renewable Energy--WindExamples of Renewable Energy--Wind

Experts in the field of alternative energy feel wind energy is the most Experts in the field of alternative energy feel wind energy is the most auspicious (favorable) of the renewables. Windmills mechanically auspicious (favorable) of the renewables. Windmills mechanically turn turbines without an intermediate stage of heating water. turn turbines without an intermediate stage of heating water.

In the early 1980s, more than 8000 In the early 1980s, more than 8000 wind machines were installed in wind machines were installed in California. One of the largest wind California. One of the largest wind farms is presently found in the farms is presently found in the rolling, windswept hills of the rolling, windswept hills of the Altamont Pass, east of San Altamont Pass, east of San Francisco. Francisco.

Attempts to reap economies of Attempts to reap economies of scale by building larger windmills scale by building larger windmills capable of generating more than capable of generating more than one megawatt of power have been one megawatt of power have been suppressed by technical problems. suppressed by technical problems. Capital costs have remained Capital costs have remained prohibitive. prohibitive.

Click on graph to see an enlarged view

Examples of Renewable Energy—The Examples of Renewable Energy—The OceanOcean

• Three methods for extracting energy from the sea have been Three methods for extracting energy from the sea have been reviewed seriously: wave power, ocean thermal energy conversion, reviewed seriously: wave power, ocean thermal energy conversion, and tidal power. and tidal power.

– Wave Power aims to harness the motion of the waves using a Wave Power aims to harness the motion of the waves using a variety of devices. variety of devices.

– Ocean thermal energy conversion seeks to exploit the Ocean thermal energy conversion seeks to exploit the temperature differences between the warm surface layer and temperature differences between the warm surface layer and the colder deep waters of the world's oceans. the colder deep waters of the world's oceans.

– Tidal power is similar to hydroelectric power in the sense it is Tidal power is similar to hydroelectric power in the sense it is severely restricted by geography. It requires long, tapering severely restricted by geography. It requires long, tapering bays that drive the tide into a large bore as it moves along the bays that drive the tide into a large bore as it moves along the channel. The incoming tide can then be trapped behind a channel. The incoming tide can then be trapped behind a barrier of some sort and ultimately used to drive turbines on its barrier of some sort and ultimately used to drive turbines on its way out again.way out again.

Examples of Renewable Examples of Renewable Energy-- Photovoltaic CellsEnergy-- Photovoltaic Cells

• Semi‑conductors have the unique property of being Semi‑conductors have the unique property of being able to turn sunlight directly into electric current. able to turn sunlight directly into electric current. This application is surfacing in a variety of items This application is surfacing in a variety of items such as solar‑powered calculators, refrigerators, such as solar‑powered calculators, refrigerators, and satellites. and satellites.

• According to some energy forecasters, solar cells According to some energy forecasters, solar cells installed on rooftops may allow for a much greater installed on rooftops may allow for a much greater decentralization of electricity than other decentralization of electricity than other technologies.technologies.

A conference room covered in photovoltaic cells at the Bewag power plant in Berlin. © Wolfgang Hoffmannhttp://www.wnrmag.com/stories/2003/feb03/energy.htm

Examples of Renewable Energy--Examples of Renewable Energy--Thermal Solar PowerThermal Solar Power

Solar thermal power Solar thermal power technologies and solar technologies and solar ponds are projected to ponds are projected to have competitive have competitive generating costs by the generating costs by the end of the century. The end of the century. The capital cost for capital cost for expensive items like expensive items like polished mirrors to polished mirrors to track the path of the track the path of the sun is presently sun is presently exorbitant.exorbitant.

http://www.sandiego.edu/weather/images/N/solar_thermal_power_plant.jpg

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Solar TwoSolar Two

Example: Solar Two—the solar energy was collected Example: Solar Two—the solar energy was collected through a field of individually guided mirrors, called through a field of individually guided mirrors, called heliostats. The sunlight heats salt to 1,050 degrees heliostats. The sunlight heats salt to 1,050 degrees Fahrenheit, which turns the salt into a liquid (or Fahrenheit, which turns the salt into a liquid (or molten salt). The liquid and hot salt was then piped molten salt). The liquid and hot salt was then piped away, stored, and used to power a steam turbine.away, stored, and used to power a steam turbine.

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Smart GrowthSmart Growth

• Smart growth is development that accommodates Smart growth is development that accommodates the needs of a community without sacrificing the the needs of a community without sacrificing the environment. environment.

• Smart growth aims to balance development and Smart growth aims to balance development and environmental protection by creating new environmental protection by creating new developments that are:developments that are:– centered more in the towns and citiescentered more in the towns and cities– include alternative transit options (trains, bike paths, and include alternative transit options (trains, bike paths, and

safe walkways)safe walkways)– have mixed use development. have mixed use development.

• Mixed use development moves away from the Mixed use development moves away from the post-WWII ideal of single-home-only suburbs to a post-WWII ideal of single-home-only suburbs to a model that includes housing, commercial, and model that includes housing, commercial, and retail space in the same development.retail space in the same development.

Types of Smart GrowthTypes of Smart Growth

• Smart growth means that less land can Smart growth means that less land can accommodate new development: this development accommodate new development: this development is sometimes called compact development. There is sometimes called compact development. There are three common techniques to achieve compact are three common techniques to achieve compact development: infill development, brownfields development: infill development, brownfields redevelopment, and cluster development. redevelopment, and cluster development.

Infill developmentInfill development

Infill development is Infill development is development that development that attempts to add attempts to add additional housing additional housing or business or business facilities inside an facilities inside an existing existing development. This development. This way, a city can fill way, a city can fill up unused space in up unused space in a particular area. a particular area.

An example of a recent mixed use development is the Paseo Colorado complex in Pasadena, California. The new complex was built in center of town and includes a two-level shopping center with four stories of apartments above the shopping areas.

Cluster developmentCluster development

Cluster development allows for similar Cluster development allows for similar dwellings as does “regular” developments; dwellings as does “regular” developments; however, the individual lot sizes are reduced however, the individual lot sizes are reduced and room is left for open spaces in the and room is left for open spaces in the developmentdevelopment

Brownfields redevelopment Brownfields redevelopment

Brownfields redevelopment is development that targets Brownfields redevelopment is development that targets the empty factories inside the city and develops them the empty factories inside the city and develops them into new living and/or retail space. One of these former into new living and/or retail space. One of these former DelMonte canneries, Plant 51, is the site of a brownfield DelMonte canneries, Plant 51, is the site of a brownfield development to convert the cannery into lofts.development to convert the cannery into lofts.

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Green BuildingsGreen Buildings

• Buildings are a major source of air pollution in the Buildings are a major source of air pollution in the US. According to the US Department of EnergyUS. According to the US Department of Energy

• Buildings emit Buildings emit

– 52 percent of all sulfur dioxide52 percent of all sulfur dioxide

– 19 percent of all nitrous oxide19 percent of all nitrous oxide

– 38 percent of carbon dioxide38 percent of carbon dioxide

– 5 percent of particulate emissions 5 percent of particulate emissions

• Considering the number of homes and businesses Considering the number of homes and businesses in the US—over 76 million residential and 5 in the US—over 76 million residential and 5 million commercial buildings at last count—this million commercial buildings at last count—this problem is considerable. problem is considerable.

Techniques used in Green ConstructionTechniques used in Green Construction

• Designing energy Designing energy efficient buildings. efficient buildings. Energy efficiency is Energy efficiency is the most important the most important factor in green factor in green construction. construction.

The Solectrogen House is an off-grid PV-powered residence in Nicasio, CA. It was designed to use active and passive solar energy, serve as a live-in laboratory for energy conservation and alternative energy products, and be a comfortable, traditionally attractive home with all the conveniences of modern living. Source: http://www.nrel.gov/data/pix/Jpegs/04479.jpg

Techniques used in Green Techniques used in Green ConstructionConstruction• Reducing material use in construction. Smaller is Reducing material use in construction. Smaller is

better for the environment; using less materials is better for the environment; using less materials is always preferable from an environmental point of always preferable from an environmental point of view.view.

• However, the trend today is for houses to get However, the trend today is for houses to get larger and larger. larger and larger.

• Using low-impact materials during construction. Using low-impact materials during construction.

– Many construction and building materials contain toxins. Many construction and building materials contain toxins. Many types of carpeting, for example, emit gases as they Many types of carpeting, for example, emit gases as they age. age.

– Research has found, particularly in houses that are tightly Research has found, particularly in houses that are tightly sealed, that their exposures to dangerous chemicals and sealed, that their exposures to dangerous chemicals and pesticides is much higher inside the house rather than pesticides is much higher inside the house rather than outside the house.outside the house.

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Sustainable AgricultureSustainable Agriculture

• Sustainability is built upon three broad goals: Sustainability is built upon three broad goals: farm profitability, improvement of the farm profitability, improvement of the environment, and increased quality of life for environment, and increased quality of life for farmers and their communities.farmers and their communities.

Practices used in sustainable Practices used in sustainable agricultureagriculture

• Integrated pest management (IPM) Integrated pest management (IPM) is a system for managing pests to is a system for managing pests to keep them at levels where they keep them at levels where they cause minimal damage to crops.cause minimal damage to crops.

• Conservation tillage--any plowing Conservation tillage--any plowing system that leaves at least 30 system that leaves at least 30 percent of the soil surface covered percent of the soil surface covered with residue from the year’s with residue from the year’s plantings. This is done so that plantings. This is done so that there will be enough soil coverage there will be enough soil coverage to decrease soil erosion.to decrease soil erosion.

Rows of soybean plants emerge from a field covered with old corn stalks from the previous harvest. These soybeans were planted in narrower (15-inch) rows because as they mature their big leaves will quickly shade the ground, making it harder for the sun to warm weed seeds that may lie between the rows. This natural canopy from the growing soybean plants can help farmers reduce the need for herbicides (weed killers). (CTIC/Towery photo)  Source: http://www.ctic.purdue.edu/Core4/CT/images/cornsoytt.jpg [2002, February 4].

Practices used in sustainable Practices used in sustainable agricultureagriculture

• Enhanced nutrient management Enhanced nutrient management includes testing of the soil before includes testing of the soil before using any fertilizer. The goal of using any fertilizer. The goal of nutrient management is to nutrient management is to minimize unused nutrients.minimize unused nutrients.

• Precision agriculture is the Precision agriculture is the newest and the most technology-newest and the most technology-intensive technique in sustainable intensive technique in sustainable agriculture. Precision agriculture agriculture. Precision agriculture uses information technologies uses information technologies including global positioning including global positioning systems (GPS) and remote systems (GPS) and remote sensing to achieve optimal sensing to achieve optimal farming outputs.farming outputs.

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