Alternative technology is a term sometimes used by environmental advocates to refer to technologies which are more environmentally friendly than the functionally equivalent technologies dominant in current practice. There are many factors which may be cited as implying greater environmental friendliness, such as greater efficiency, or different fuels or power sources. Environmental movement is a term often used for any social or political movement directed towards the preservation, restoration, or enhancement of the natural environment. ...

The term also includes products or production processes that promote or enhance material recovery, recycling or marketing of secondary materials, or that reduce or eliminate waste or emissions at the source of generation. The international symbol for recycling. ... Traditionally, Marketing is the process or act of bringing together buyers and sellers. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The word emission generally means sending something out. ...

Alternative technologies themselves are part of the politics of the environment. Common political issues related to alternative technologies include whether or not they are practical for widespread use; whether or not they are cost-effective; whether or not widespread adoption would produce negative impacts on the economy, lifestyle or enviroment (production energy costs/pollutants) ; how to encourage rapid adoption; whether or not public subsidies for adoption are appropriate; which technologies government regulations should favor, if any, and how environmentally unsound technologies and practices should be regulated; what technological research should be done and how it should be funded; and which of a field of competing alternative technologies should be pursued. Environmentalism is the support or involvement with the environmental movement by environmentalists. ...

Some "alternative technologies" have in the past or may in the future become widely adopted, after which they might no longer be considered "alternative." For example, a class of chemicals known as CFCs have been replaced by more ozone-friendly chemicals, such as HFCs and HCFCs. For other uses, see CFC (disambiguation). ... Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) is one of a class of fluorocarbon compounds that are used primarily as chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) substitutes. ...

Some alternative technologies

• Wind generators
• Liquid fuels for automobiles (besides gasoline and diesel)
  • Alcohol (either ethanol or methanol)
  • Natural gas
  • Vegetable oil
  • Biogas
  • Biodiesel
• Solar panels
  • Silicon-based
  • Photosynthetic "Gratzel cells" (Titanium dioxide)
• Fuel cells
• Greywater
• Paper recycling
• Aluminum recycling
• Methane extraction from garbage dumps
• Fluorescent lights
• Composting
• Urban car

A tall tower holds a wind turbine aloft where winds are consistently stronger. ... Gasoline, as it is known in North America, or petrol, in many Commonwealth countries (sometimes also called motor spirit) is a petroleum-derived liquid mixture consisting primarily of hydrocarbons, used as fuel in internal combustion engines. ... Diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of fuel oil (from petroleum) that is used in a diesel engine invented by German engineer Rudolf Diesel, and perfected by Charles F. Kettering. ... The use of alcohol as a fuel for internal combustion engines, either alone or in combination with other fuels, has been given much attention mostly because of its possible environmental and long-term economical advantages over fossil fuel. ... Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol, is a flammable, colorless chemical compound, one of the alcohols that is most often found in alcoholic beverages. ... Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol or wood alcohol, is a chemical compound with chemical formula CH3OH. It is the simplest alcohol, and is a light, volatile, colourless, flammable, poisonous liquid that is used as an antifreeze, solvent, fuel, and as a denaturant for ethyl alcohol. ... Natural gas (commonly refered to as gas in many countries) is a gaseous fossil fuel consisting primarily of methane. ... A vegetable oil or vegoil is an oil extracted from oilseeds or another plant source. ... Biogas typically refers to methane produced by the fermentation of organic matter including manure, wastewater sludge, or municipal solid waste, under anaerobic conditions. ... Biodiesel sample Biodiesel is an alternative to petroleum-based diesel fuel made from renewable resources such as vegetable oils or animal fats. ... Solar Panel (photovoltaic array) The solar panels on this small yacht at sea can charge the 12 V batteries at up to 9 Amps in full, direct sunlight. ... Leaf. ... Titanium dioxide, also known as titanium(IV) oxide or titania, is the naturally occurring oxide of titanium, chemical formula TiO2. ... A fuel cell is an electrochemical device similar to a battery, but differing from the latter in that it is designed for continuous replenishment of the reactants consumed; i. ... Greywater is water generated by household processes such as washing dishes, laundry and bathing. ... The international symbol for recycling. ... A compact fluorescent lamp with an integrated electronic ballast A fluorescent lamp is a type of lamp that uses electricity to excite mercury vapor in argon or neon gas, producing short-wave ultraviolet light. ... Compost is the decomposed remnants of organic materials (those with plant and animal origins). ... An urban car is a car designed to be used in city traffic. ...

Some companies developing alternative technologies

• Kyocera
• Toyota, with the Prius hybrid electric-gas car
• Volvo, with its recyclable cars
• BMW, researching a liquid hydrogen fueled engine

Kyocera (京セラ, also known as Kyoto Ceramics) is a Japanese company based in Kyoto, Japan. ... Toyota redirects here. ... Prius may refer to: Hitachi Flora Prius, a personal computer. ... A Volvo S80 car, model year 2002. ... The BMW logo is a circle (known as a roundel) divided into quadrants of alternating white and light blue color. ... General Name, Symbol, Number hydrogen, H, 1 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 1, 1, s Appearance colorless Atomic mass 1. ...

See also

• Appropriate technology

Appropriate technology is a term which refers to using the simplest and most benign level of technology which can effectively achieve the intended purpose. ...

External links

• Recycled wood
• Technological alternatives
• Australia's alternative technology association
• Kyocera
• Gratzel Cells - Solar Cells Based on Titanium Dioxide
• Alternative Energy newsletter for Research Professionals
• Centre for Alternative Energy (European)
• EU Intelligent Energy.