NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Appropriate Technology

Appropriate technology is technology that is appropriate to the environmental, cultural and economic situation it is intended for. An appropriate technology, in this sense, typically requires fewer resources, which means lower cost and less impact on the environment. By the mid 20th century humans had achieved a mastery of technology sufficient to leave the surface of the Earth for the first time and explore space. ...

It is usually used to describe technologies which are suitable for use in developing nations or underdeveloped rural areas of industrialized nations, which may lack the money and specialised expertise to operate and maintain high technology. Labor-intensive solutions are usually preferred to capital-intensive ones, although labor-saving devices are also important where this does not mean high capital or maintenance cost. A developing country is a country with low average income compared to the world average. ... Rural area in Dalarna, Sweden Qichun, a rural town in Hubei province, China Rural areas (also referred to as the country, countryside) are sparsely settled places away from the influence of large cities. ... High tech refers to high technology, technology that is at the cutting-edge and the most advanced currently available. ...

In practice, it is often something that might be described as using the simplest and most benign level of technology that can effectively achieve the intended purpose in a particular location.

The terminology is not very precise. Isolated rural communities in developed nations may also benefit by using some of the same technologies. On the other hand, large cities in developing countries may find it more appropriate to use technologies usually found in wealthy countries. An expensive technology may be the most appropriate in a wealthy community with the ability to pay for and maintain it.

Such technology, as asserted in the book Small is Beautiful ^[1] by E. F. Schumacher, tends to promote values such as health, beauty and permanence, in that order. Small Is Beautiful is the title of a book by E. F. Schumacher. ... Ernst Friedrich Fritz Schumacher (16 August 1911 â€“ 4 September 1977) was an internationally influential economic thinker with a professional background as a statistician and economist in Britain. ... Many people see natural beauty in the rose. ...

What exactly constitutes appropriate technology in any given case is a matter of debate, but generally the term is used by theorists to question high technology or excessive mechanization, human displacement, resource depletion or increased pollution associated with unchecked industrialisation. The term has often, though not always, been applied to the predicaments of developing nations or underdeveloped rural areas of industrialized nations. High tech refers to high technology, technology that is at the cutting-edge and the most advanced currently available. ... Mechanization is the use of machines to replace manual labour or animals and can also refer to the use of powered machinery to help a human operator in some task. ... Development Induced Displacement is the forcing of communities and individuals out of their homes, often also their homelands, for the purposes of economic development. ... Rainforest on Fatu-Hiva, Marquesas Islands Natural resources are naturally occurring substances that are considered valuable in their relatively unmodified (natural) form. ... Pollution is the release of environmental contaminants. ... A factory in Ilmenau (Germany) around 1860 Industrialisation (also spelt Industrialization) or an Industrial Revolution is a process of social and economic change whereby a human society is transformed from a pre-industrial (an economy where the amount of capital accumulated per capita is low) to an industrial state (see... A developing country is a country with low average income compared to the world average. ... Rural area in Dalarna, Sweden Qichun, a rural town in Hubei province, China Rural areas (also referred to as the country, countryside) are sparsely settled places away from the influence of large cities. ...

It could be argued that "appropriate technology" for a technologically advanced society may mean a more expensive, complex technology requiring expert maintenance. However, this is not the usual meaning of the term, and is not the meaning intended in this article.

Background of the term

The term came into some prominence during the 1973 energy crisis and the environmental movement of the 1970s. The economist (and former British Coal Board advisor) E. F. Schumacher of the UK was one of the originators of the concept. (Redirected from 1973 energy crisis) United States, drivers of vehicles with odd numbered license plates were allowed to purchase gasoline only on odd-numbered days of the month, while drivers with even-numbers were limited to even-numbered days. ... The Environmental Movement (a term that sometimes includes the conservation and green movements) is a diverse scientific, social, and political movement. ... Ernst Friedrich Fritz Schumacher (16 August 1911 â€“ 4 September 1977) was an internationally influential economic thinker with a professional background as a statistician and economist in Britain. ...

A related term, intermediate technology, refers specifically to tools that cost more or are more sophisticated or complex than those currently in use in a developing nation but still much less costly, or less inaccessible, than those tools that would be used in a developed nation. Often, in a developing nation, this is a first step among "appropriate" criteria. As well, it is usually "appropriate" to use only technologies that can at least be locally repaired. Intermediate technology is infrastructural capital that is at least an order of magnitude more expensive than that prevalent in a developing nation but also at least an order of magnitude less expensive than that prevalent in a developed nation offering aid. ... A developed country is a country that is technologically advanced and that enjoys a relatively high standard of living. ...

Different usages, controversies

One approach to the term, among advocates of voluntary simplicity (sometimes termed neo-luddites by others), is that "appropriate technology" is technology whose risk/cost/value tradeoff is compelling enough to justify continued use. Examples might include a clothesline, small kitchen gardens, home composting, better thermal insulation, or commuting by bicycle rather than automobile. Voluntary simplicity (or simple living) is a lifestyle considered by its adherents to be a sustainable, ecologically sensitive alternative to the typical, western consumerist lifestyle. ... The term luddite is both a political/historical term relating to a political movement during the Industrial Revolution and a pejorative used to attack those who are perceived as being uncompromisingly or unnecessarily opposed to one or more technological innovations. ... By the mid 20th century humans had achieved a mastery of technology sufficient to leave the surface of the Earth for the first time and explore space. ... For other uses, see Risk (disambiguation). ... Clothes pins on a clothes line Clothes line is any type of string, rope, cord, or twine that has been stretched between two points, generally outside, a few feet above the ground. ... An active compost heap, steaming on a cold winter morning. ... Thermal insulation on the Huygens probe The term thermal insulation can refer to materials used to reduce the rate of heat transfer, or the methods and processes used to reduce heat transfer. ... Police officer on a bicycle Cycling is a recreation, a sport and a means of transport across land. ...

Many advocates who use the term "appropriate technology" imply changes that extend even to the "highest" technologies when those technologies are, in fact, the technologies best fitted to their applications. Use of radio broadcasts, cellular telephones or distance education might be considered appropriate "high technologies." Cellular redirects here. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Another commonly encountered approach to the term "appropriate technology" is when it is used to describe specific technologies, like wind power, that provide an alternative to fossil fuels. Also, the term is sometimes used to describe things like the telephone, radio and television that can reduce the need for travel or replace print. Such usage is controversial, as, very often, windmills or electronics may rely on very high technology elsewhere, in their production. Worldwide installed capacity and prediction 1997-2010, Source: [http://www. ... 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. ... // Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons, primarily coal, fuel oil or natural gas, formed from the remains of dead plants and animals. ... The telephone or phone is a telecommunications device which is used to transmit and receive sound (most commonly voice and speech) across distance. ... Printing is an industrial process for reproducing copies of texts and images, typically with ink on paper using a printing press. ... High tech refers to high technology, technology that is at the cutting-edge and the most advanced currently available. ...

Which technologies are truly "appropriate" was a matter of debate among those who pioneered the concept, and is still a matter of some debate. Further, the use of technologies that are appropriate is an issue for both industry and consumers. For instance, in recent years some consumers have heard the criticism that SUVs are not appropriate to transport one person from A to B on flat terrain and without transporting goods. The other extreme is the use of Alternative propulsion, which may involve investing more in the means (say, a car or motorcycle) than the average citizen can afford. This article or section may be confusing or unclear for some readers, and should be edited to rectify this. ... Alternative propulsion is a term used frequently for power train concepts differing to the standard internal combustion engine concept used in gasoline- or diesel-fueled vehicles. ...

Sometimes, appropriate technology is a synonym of creating technology within GFDL (GNU Free Documentation License) and public domain, in collaborative environments (it can use a wiki or similar). In this sense, appropriate technology is not appropriative (proprietary) technology. Look up Synonym in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... GFDL redirects here. ... Look up Wiki in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Proprietary indicates that a party, or proprietor, exercises private ownership, control or use over an item of property, usually to the exclusion of other parties. ...

Intermediate technology

"Intermediate technology" can be a synonym for appropriate technology. It was used by E.F. Schumacher to describe technology that is at least an order of magnitude (10 times) more expensive than that prevalent in a developing nation but also at least an order of magnitude less expensive than that prevalent in a developed nation offering aid. It is a technology that can be easily purchased and used by poor people, and which can lead to greater productivity while minimizing social dislocation. Much intermediate technology can also be built and serviced using locally available materials and knowledge. For instance, if a typical workplace costs $1 to equip with primitive tools, but a competitive modern industrial approach would require a workplace costing $1000, then the 'intermediate technologies' are those that cost $10-$100 per workplace. The term was popularized by E. F. Schumacher and his colleagues who were working on early human development theory in the 1960s. It was explained in depth in his book Small is Beautiful, which offered a sharp critique of then-prevalent approaches to development aid. Ernst Friedrich Fritz Schumacher (1911-1977) was an economist with a professional background as a statistician and economist in Britain. ... A developing country is a country with low average income compared to the world average. ... A developed country is a country that is technologically advanced and that enjoys a relatively high standard of living. ... In sociology and critical social theory, alienation refers to the individuals estrangement from traditional community and others in general. ... Ernst Friedrich Fritz Schumacher (16 August 1911 â€“ 4 September 1977) was an internationally influential economic thinker with a professional background as a statistician and economist in Britain. ... Human development theory is an economic theory that merges older ideas from ecological economics, sustainable development, welfare economics, and feminist economics. ... Small Is Beautiful is the title of a book by E. F. Schumacher. ...

Characteristics of these technologies

Low cost and low maintenance requirements are of prime importance. More frequent maintenance can be considered appropriate, if the maintenance can be done with locally available skills, tools, and materials. It is usually "appropriate" to use only technologies that can at least be locally repaired.

Not necessarily "low" technology

Appropriate technology can benefit from the latest research, as with the cloth filter which was inspired by research into the way cholera is carried in water. It may use very recent technology - for example, a type of white LED lights is used by the Light Up the World Foundation in remote areas of Nepal, due to their low power requirements and high reliability. Developed for use in Bangladesh, the cloth filter is a simple and cost-effective appropriate technology method for reducing the contamination of drinking water. ... Led is also the past tense of the verb to lead Blue, green and red LEDs. ... The Light Up the World Foundation (LUTW) is a non-profit humanitarian organization dedicated to providing lighting to poor people in remote areas who currently rely on kerosene lamps or even wood fires. ...

Sustainability

Features such as low cost, low usage of fossil fuels and use of locally available resources can give some advantages in terms of sustainability. For that reason, these technologies are sometimes used and promoted by advocates of sustainability and alternative technology. Sustainability is an attempt to provide the best outcomes for the human and natural environments both now and into the indefinite future. ... 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. ...

Some appropriate technologies

Some technologies that may be considered appropriate technology in the right context:

Information and communication technology

The 2B1 and the Simputer are computers aimed at developing countries, their primary advantage being low cost. Other relevant factors include resistance to dust, reliability and use of the target language. The Childrens Machine, or 2B1, is a proposed inexpensive laptop computer intended to provide every child in the world access to knowledge and modern forms of education. ... The Simputer is a self-contained, handheld computer, designed for use in environments where computing devices such as Personal Computers are deemed inappropriate. ...

Eldis OnDisc[1] is a project which uses CDs and DVDs to give access to development information in areas without reliable and affordable internet access. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... DVD (commonly known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) is an optical disc storage media format that can be used for data storage, including movies with high video and sound quality. ...

The Wind-up radio and the computer and communication system planned by the Jhai Foundation are independent from power supply. A wind-up radio is an FM/AM radio receiver, sometimes incorporating a flashlight or other useful device, powered by a handcrank which charges an internal battery. ... The Jhai Foundation is a non-profit organisation working mainly in Laos. ...

There is also the Grameen Bank's telephone network, working in conjunction with its microfinance program, which gives Bangladeshi villagers access to communication. The Grameen Bank (Bangla: à¦—à§à¦°à¦¾à¦®à§€à¦£ à¦¬à§à¦¯à¦¾à¦‚à¦•) is a microfinance organization and community development bank started in Bangladesh that makes small loans (known as microcredit) to the impoverished without requiring collateral. ...

Mobile telephony is appropriate technology for many developing countries, as it greatly reduces the infrastructure required to achieve widespread coverage. Cellular redirects here. ...

Loband, a website developed by Aidworld[2] strips all the photographic and other bandwidth intensive content from webpages and renders them as simple text, while otherwise allowing you to browse them normally. The site greatly increasing the speed of browsing, and is appropriate for use on low bandwidth connections as generally available in much of the developing world. Browser can refer to: browser - a type of herbivore whose nutrition generally comes from high growing plants, like trees, rather than a grazer that eats from the ground. ... Browser can refer to: browser - a type of herbivore whose nutrition generally comes from high growing plants, like trees, rather than a grazer that eats from the ground. ...

Construction

Adobe (including the variation called Super Adobe), Rammed earth, Dutch brick, and Cob could be considered appropriate technology for much of the developing world, as they make use of materials which are widely available locally and are thus relatively inexpensive. The local context must be considered as, for example, mudbrick may not be durable in a high rainfall area (although a large roof overhang and cement stabilisation can be used to correct for this), and, if the materials are not readily available, the method may be inappropriate. Other forms of natural building may be considered appropriate technology, though in many cases the emphasis is on sustainability rather than affordability or suitability. Renewal of the surface coating of an adobe wall in Chamisal, New Mexico Adobe is a natural building material composed of sand, sandy clay and straw or other organic materials, which is shaped into bricks using wooden frames and dried in the sun. ... Super Adobe is a form of Earthbag Construction that was developed by Iranian architect Nader Khalili. ... Rammed Earth is an old building material that has seen a revival in recent years as people seek low-impact building materials and natural building methods. ... Dutch bricks are building-blocks made, not of brick, but of a mixture of concrete, sand and soil. ... Cob building dated 1539 in Devon, England. ... In the most general sense of the word, cement is a binder, a substance which sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. ... Natural building involves a range of building systems and materials that place major emphasis on sustainability. ...

The organization Architecture for Humanity also follows principles consistent with appropriate technology, aiming to serve the needs of poor and disaster-affected people. Architecture for Humanity is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 1999 to promote architectural and design solutions to global, social and humanitarian crises and provide design services to communities in need. ...

Energy

"Appropriate" energy technologies are especially suitable for isolated and/or small scale energy needs. However, high capital cost must be taken into account.

Electricity can be provided from solar cells (which are expensive initially, but simple), wind power or micro hydro, with energy stored in batteries. A solar cell, made from a monocrystalline silicon wafer A solar cell or photovoltaic cell is a device that converts light energy into electrical energy. ... Worldwide installed capacity and prediction 1997-2010, Source: [http://www. ... Micro Hydro is a term used for hydroelectric power installations that typically produce up to 100 kW of power. ... For other uses, see battery (disambiguation). ...

Biobutanol, biodiesel and straight vegetable oil can be appropriate, direct biofuels in areas where vegetable oil is readily available and cheaper than fossil fuels. Butanol (butyl alcohol) is a higher alcohol with a 4 carbon atom structure and a general formula of C4H10O. There are 4 different isomeric structures for butanol (refer to box). ... In some countries, filling stations sell bio-diesel more cheaply than conventional diesel. ... Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) is a fuel for diesel engines that can be either pure new vegetable oil or waste vegetable oil that has been cleaned, although this is normally referred to as WVO. Vegetable oil used as fuel in a compression ignition or diesel engine is also referred to... Biofuel is any fuel that is derived from biomass â€” recently living organisms or their metabolic byproducts, such as manure from cows. ... // Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons, primarily coal, fuel oil or natural gas, formed from the remains of dead plants and animals. ...

A generator (running on biofuels) can be run more efficiently if combined with batteries and an inverter; this adds significantly to capital cost but reduces running cost, and can potentially make this a much cheaper option than the solar, wind and micro-hydro options. An inverter is a circuit for converting direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). ... This is the amount on which you first claim CCA. The capital cost of a depreciable property is usually the total of the purchase price, not including the cost of land (which is not depreciable);the part of your legal, accounting, engineering, installation, and other fees that relates to the...

Biogas is another potential source of energy, particularly where there is an abundant supply of waste organic matter. Biogas-bus in Bern, Switzerland Biogas typically refers to a (biofuel) gas produced by the anaerobic digestion or fermentation of organic matter including manure, sewage sludge, municipal solid waste, biodegradable waste or any other biodegradable feedstock, under anaerobic conditions. ... Waste inside a wheelie bin Waste in a binbag Waste, rubbish, trash, garbage, or junk is unwanted or undesired material. ... Organic has several meanings and related topics. ...

The term soft energy technology was coined by Amory Lovins^{[citation needed]} to describe "appropriate" renewable energy. Soft energy technologies are not simply renewable energy technologies, as there are many renewable energy technologies which are not regarded as soft. Soft energy technologies may be seen as appropriate renewable technologies. ... Amory Lovins Amory Bloch Lovins (born November 13, 1947 in Washington, DC) was trained in physics and has worked professionally as an environmentalist. ...

Lighting

The Light Up the World Foundation uses white LED lights and a source of renewable energy such as solar cells to provide lighting to poor people in remote areas, providing significant benefits compared to the kerosene lamps which they replace. The Light Up the World Foundation (LUTW) is a non-profit humanitarian organization dedicated to providing lighting to poor people in remote areas who currently rely on kerosene lamps or even wood fires. ... External links LEd Category: TeX ... World renewable energy in 2005 (except 2004 data for items marked* or **). Enlarge image to read exclusions. ... A solar cell, made from a monocrystalline silicon wafer A solar cell or photovoltaic cell is a device that converts light energy into electrical energy. ... Russian wick kerosene lamp. ...

The Safe bottle lamp is a safer kerosene lamp designed in Sri Lanka. The safety comes from a secure screw-on metal lid, and two flat sides which prevent it from rolling if knocked over. The Safe bottle lamp, called sudeepa or sudipa for good lamp, is a safer kerosene lamp designed by Wijaya Godakumbura of Sri Lanka. ... Russian wick kerosene lamp. ...

Food preparation

Appropriate technologies can greatly reduce the labor required to prepare food, compared to traditional methods, while being much simpler and cheaper than the processing used in Western countries. This reflects E.F. Schumacher's concept of "intermediate technology," i.e. technology which is significantly more effective and expensive than traditional methods, but still an order of magnitude (10 times) cheaper than developed world technology. Key examples are the Malian peanut sheller, the fonio husking machine, and the screenless hammer mill. Ernst Friedrich Fritz Schumacher (1911-1977) was an economist with a professional background as a statistician and economist in Britain. ... The Malian Peanut/Groundnut Sheller is a simple hand-operated machine capable of shelling 50 kg of raw, sun-dried nuts per hour. ... A Fonio husking machine was invented by Sanoussi DiakitÃ©, a Senegalese mechanical engineer. ... The screenless hammer mill, like regular Hammer mills, is used to pound grain. ...

Cooking

Smokeless and wood conserving stoves promise greater efficiency and less smoke, resulting in savings in time and labor, reduced deforestation, and significant health benefits. Briquette makers, of the type developed by the Legacy Foundation, can turn organic waste into fuel, saving money and/or collection time, and preserving forests. Cook stoves, sometimes referred to as biomass cook stoves, are the most common way of cooking and heating food in developing countries. ... A briquette (or briquet) is a block of flammable matter, such as escaillage, which can be used to start a fire. ...

Solar cookers are appropriate to some settings, depending on climate and cooking style. The CooKit solar panel cooker in use in Africa A solar cooker is a way of using the suns power to cook. ...

Health care

A phase-change incubator, developed in the late 1990s, is a low cost way for health workers to incubate microbial samples. The phase-change incubator is a low-cost, low-maintenance device to help test for microorganisms in water supplies. ...

Note that many appropriate technologies benefit public health, in particular by providing sanitation and safe drinking water. Refrigeration may also provide a health benefit. (These are discussed in the following paragraphs.) Public health is concerned with threats to the overall health of a community based on population health analysis. ...

Refrigeration

The pot-in-pot refrigerator is an African invention which keeps things cool without electricity. It provides a way to keep food and produce fresh for much longer than would otherwise be possible. This can be a great benefit to the families who use the device. For example, it is claimed that girls who had to regularly sell fresh produce in the market can now go to school instead, as there is less urgency to sell the produce before it loses freshness. The pot-in-pot refrigerator, also known as a Zeer pot is a way of keeping food cool without electricity. ...

Water supply

Appropriate technologies for delivering water include the hippo water roller, which allows more water to be carried, with less effort; rainwater harvesting (which requires an appropriate method of storage, especially in areas with significant dry seasons); and fog collection, suitable for areas which experience fog even when there is little rain. The Hippo water roller, or Hippo roller, is a device for carrying water more easily and efficiently than traditional methods, particularly in the developing world. ... Rainwater harvesting is the collection and storage of rain from roofs or from a surface catchment for future use. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

The roundabout playpump, developed and used in southern Africa, harnesses the energy of children at play to pump water; however at several thousand dollars it cannot be considered a low-cost option. The Roundabout PlayPump uses the energy of children at play to operate a water pump. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa. ...

Handpumps and treadle pumps are generally more appropriate to developing world contexts than motor-driven pumps, and may provide better quality water with less travel time than surface water sources; however, even handpumps are often a problem, failing and left unused due to lack of maintenance. The principle of Village Level Operation and Maintenance is important with handpumps, but may be difficult in application. Handpumps are used primarily in developing nations as a manually powered means of bringing water to the surface from a borehole or well. ... A treadle pump is a human-powered pump designed to lift water from a depth of seven meters or less. ... Surface water is water on the ground or in a stream, river, lake, sea or ocean; as opposed to groundwater. ... Village Level Operation and Maintenance, commonly VLOM, refers to the use of a hand pump which requires minimal maintenance. ...

Water treatment

Water may need purification before use, depending on the source and the intended use (with high standards required for drinking water). Groundwater may be clean enough, depending on depth and distance from sources of contamination such as latrines; rainwater may also be clean, especially if the early part of the rainfall is diverted to waste. However, it is often recommended to treat the water, to remove any doubt as to its safety.^{[citation needed]} Water purification is the removal of contaminants from raw water to produce drinking water that is pure enough for human consumption or for industrial use. ... It has been suggested that Water supply be merged into this article or section. ... SHARAF HAS ISSUES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! // An aquifer is a subterranean geologic unit (or layer) of permeable material (like sand and gravel) that is capable of providing usable quantities of water to a well. ... A latrine is a structure (usually small; holding a single person) for defecation. ...

The main processes are filtration, biofilm, sedimentation, heat, ultraviolet light, and chemical disinfection (using bleach - see water purification). An industrial water filter with geared motor A water filter is a device which removes impurities from water by means of a fine physical barrier, chemical processes and or biological process. ... Staphylococcus aureus biofilm on an indwelling catheter. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Note: Ultraviolet is also the name of a 1998 UK television miniseries about vampires. ... Commercial chlorine bleach To bleach something is to remove or lighten its colour, sometimes as a preliminary step in the process of dyeing; a bleach is a chemical that produces these effects, often via oxidation. ... Water purification is the removal of contaminants from raw water to produce drinking water that is pure enough for human consumption or for industrial use. ...

Slow sand filters are suitable for community or municipal level water treatment, and provide a very high quality output of water with relatively simple operation, and are used in wealthy nations as well as poor communities. Its downsides are the large area used and occasional downtime after maintenance; however, both of these can be reduced by changing the system of maintenance, and ploughing rather than scraping the surface. See article for details. Slow sand filters are used in water purification for treating raw water to produce a potable product. ... Slow sand filters are used in water purification for treating raw water to produce a potable product. ...

The crushed seeds of Moringa oleifera or Strychnos potatorum can be used as flocculants, allowing the impurities to be more easily removed by sedimentation or filtration. Binomial name Moringa oleifera Moringa oleifera, commonly referred to simply as Moringa, is the most widely cultivated variety of the genus Moringa. ... Species about 190 Strychnos is a genus of flowering plants, belonging to family Loganiaceae. ... Flocculation refers to a process where a solute comes out of solution in the form of floc or flakes. ...

A type of ceramic water filter was recently developed which can be made with clay, mixed with organic matter such as coffee grounds without a kiln, and fired using an open dung fire. Ceramic water filters purify water by passing the water through pores in ceramic. ... Charcoal Kilns, California Gold Kiln, Victoria, Australia Hop kiln. ... Dung can refer to: Look up dung in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

The LifeStraw is a small manufactured device which allows the user to drink straight from unclean water. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Cloth filters and solar water disinfection are suitable for use on a small scale, using jars or bottles, requiring only very few resources. Developed for use in Bangladesh, the cloth filter is a simple and cost-effective appropriate technology method for reducing the contamination of drinking water. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

In some cases multiple methods may be used to produce safe drinking water. For example solar water disinfection requires fairly clear water, so a simple method of filtering, such as a cloth filter, may be used first.

Spring water typically doesn't need treatment, unless it is polluted at the outlet. The quality of water at the outlet may be protected with a spring box. A springbox is a structure engineered to make optimum use of a natural spring. ...

Sanitation

BiPu (Bioremediation Infield Personnel Unit) is a sanitation method suitable for disaster relief and for temporary or isolated locations. ... Disaster management means a continuous and integrated multi-sectoral, multi-disciplinary process of planning and implementation of measures aimed at prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery in relation to natural and man-made disasters. ... A latrine is a structure (usually small; holding a single person) for defecation. ... The Orangi Pilot Project refers to a project carried out in the slum areas of Orangi, Karachi, Pakistan. ... Kamal Kar is an advocate of community participation in development, in Bangladesh. ... A reedbed in summer In nature, reedbeds are basically â€™temporaryâ€™ habitats. ... Sewage is the liquid water produced by human society which typically contains washing water, laundry waste, faeces, urine and other liquid or semi-liquid wastes. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Ecological Sanitation One person produces about 500 litres of urine and only 50 litres of faeces per year. ... The word Sanitization means to clean or decontaminate. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require a spell check. ... Fertilizers are chemicals given to plants with the intention of promoting growth; they are usually applied either via the soil or by foliar spraying. ...

Accessibility

The Whirlwind wheelchair provides mobility for disabled people who cannot afford the expensive wheelchairs used in developed countries. The Whirlwind wheelchair is a wheelchair designed to be made in developing countries with local resources. ...

See also

Some of the following links may not directly address the needs of developing world settings, but are relevant to the principles discussed here:

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. ... Alternative propulsion is a term used frequently for power train concepts differing to the standard internal combustion engine concept used in gasoline- or diesel-fueled vehicles. ... Community-based economics or just community economics encourages local substitution and a rejection of outside energy subsidy and coercion. ... Ecovillages are socially, economically and ecologically sustainable villages of 50 to 150 people. ... This page aims to list articles related to the natural environment. ... Green syndicalism has been used as a name for the philosophy of the green guild or sustainable trades movement. ... Deindustrialization is the process by which the manufacturing-based economy of a country or region declines. ... High tech refers to high technology, technology that is at the cutting-edge and the most advanced currently available. ... Permaculture Mandala summarising the ethics and principles of permaculture design. ... Main article: Technology Technology and society or technology and culture refers to the never-ending cyclical co-dependence, co-influence, co-production of technology and society upon the other (technology upon culture, and vice-versa). ...

Programs

The Orangi Pilot Project refers to a project carried out in the slum areas of Orangi, Karachi, Pakistan. ... Community-led total sanitation (CLTS), is a grassroots approach to sanitation developed in Bangladesh. ...

Organizations

The Centre for Appropriate Technology Inc is an Australian organisation, based in Alice Springs (Central Australia), which aims to improve the lives of indigenous Australians, using appropriate technology to improve their access to a range services. ... El Centro Integrado de Technologia Appropriada (CITA) is a Cuban appropriate technology organization. ... Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW) is a national not-for-profit based in Ithaca, New York. ... There are organizations in several countries that have the name Engineers Without Borders. ... Practical Action - the working name of Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) – is a charity registered in the United Kingdom which works directly in four regions of the developing world – Latin America, East Africa, Southern Africa and South Asia, with particular concentration on Peru, Kenya, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka... Village Earth is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 1993 that promotes community-based development through consultation, training, and networking with individuals, communities, and organizations around the globe. ...

People in this field

James Tennant Baldwin (whose books and articles have been published under the names J. Baldwin, Jay Baldwin, and James T. Baldwin) is an American industrial designer and writer born in 1934. ... Brandis on the cover of a Wilmington magazine. ... Dr Sandy Cairncross is an epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). ... Amory Lovins Amory Bloch Lovins (born November 13, 1947 in Washington, DC) was trained in physics and has worked professionally as an environmentalist. ... Future energy development face great challenges due to an increasing world population, demands for higher standards of living, demands for less pollution and a much discussed end to fossil fuels. ... Lewis Mumford (October 19, 1895 â€“ January 26, 1990) was an American historian of technology and science. ... Designer and educator Victor Papanek (1927-1999) was a strong advocate of the socially and ecologically responsible design of products and tools. ... Witold Rybczynski (born in 1943, in Edinburgh, Scotland), is a Canadian architect, professor and writer. ... Ernst Friedrich Fritz Schumacher (1911-1977) was an economist with a professional background as a statistician and economist in Britain. ... Amy Smith - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Dr. John Todd (1939- ) is an important biologist working in the field of ecological design. ...

Prizes and competitions

The MIT IDEAS Competition encourages teams to develop and implement projects that make a positive change in the world. ...

Publication references

External links

Online resources

Email newsletters To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Wiki and discussion sites

Wikis

Discussion sites - non-wiki

WorldChanging is an bright green environmentalism blog which covers environmental, humanitarian and design issues. ...

Blogs

Rachel and the Malian Peanut Sheller Uganda, 2005 The Full Belly Project Ltd is a non-profit organization based out of Wilmington, North Carolina, which designs labor saving devices to improve the lives of people in developing countries. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ...

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Categories: Articles lacking sources from June 2006 | All articles lacking sources | Articles with unsourced statements since February 2007 | All articles with unsourced statements | Types of technology | Survival skills | Sustainability | Appropriate technology | Simple living This article is about Humboldt State University in California. ... Sustainability is an attempt to provide the best outcomes for the human and natural environments both now and into the indefinite future. ... It has been suggested that Green design be merged into this article or section. ... Sustainable architecture is building design that takes into account all aspects of the building that will affect and be affected by the environment. ... Sustainable landscape architecture is a category of sustainable design concerned with the planning and design of outdoor space. ... Environmental design is the process of addressing environmental parameters when devising plans, programs, policies, buildings, or products. ... Ecological economics is an approach to rather than a branch of economics that addresses the interdependence and co-evolution between human economies and natural ecosystems. ... Development economics is a branch of economics that deals with the study of macroeconomic causes of long term economic growth, and microeconomics; the incentive issues of individual households and firms, especially in developing countries. ... Green economics is an approach to economics in which the economy is considered to be a component of, and dependent upon, the natural world within which it resides and of which is it considered a part. ... Green Gross Domestic Product (Green GDP) is an index of economic growth with the environmental consequences of that growth factored in. ... The triple bottom line captures an expanded spectrum of values and criteria for measuring organizational (and societal) success - economic, environmental and social. ... Sustainable agriculture integrates three main goals: environmental stewardship, farm profitability, and prosperous farming communities. ... Food security is a term used in development and humanitarian aid. ... Forest gardening (also known as 3-Dimensional Gardening) is a food production and land management system based on replicating woodland ecosystems, substituting trees (such as fruit or nut trees), bushes, shrubs, herbs and vegetables which have yields directly useful to mankind. ... Humanure is a neologism designating human waste (feces and urine) that is recycled via composting for agricultural or other purposes. ... This is a list of companion plant relationships. ... This is a list of repellent plants. ... Ancient technique re-introduced by Masanobu Fukuoka. ... Vermicompost (also called Worm Compost, Vermicast, or Worm Manure) is end product of the breakdown of organic matter by special varieties of earthworms. ... The earliest mention of the phrase sustainable industries appeared in 1990 in a story about a Japanese group reforesting a tropical forest to help create sustainable industries for the local populace. ... Parkland in Burkina Faso: Sorghum grown under Faidherbia albida and Borassus akeassii near Banfora, Burkina Faso Agroforestry combines agriculture and forestry technologies to create more integrated, diverse, productive, profitable, healthy and sustainable land-use systems. ... Ecoforestry is forestry that emphasizes holistic practices which strive to protect and restore ecosystems1 instead of traditional forestry that maximizes economic productivity. ... Timber Exploitation of natural resources is an essential condition of the human existence. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Sustainable architecture. ... Green Chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances. ... Green Computing is the design of technological and computing products that reduce the use of hazardous substances and radiation. ... Natural building involves a range of building systems and materials that place major emphasis on sustainability. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... Sustainable forest management is a sub-set of sustainable development. ... Girl on a bicycle in a car free area in Frankfurt Sustainable transport is a phrase which was coined in the late 20th century to describe all forms of transport which minimise emissions of carbon dioxide and pollutants. ... The living machine at Oberlin College with a settlement tank in the foreground and filtering tanks in the background The concept of living machines represents a particularly interesting variant on intelligent machines, and has mostly been associated with water treatment systems that make use of natural bioremediation processes such as... Mycoremediation is a form of bioremediation, the process of using microbes to return an environment (usually soil) contaminated by pollutants to a less contaminated state. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Off-the-grid. ... Cob building dated 1539 in Devon, England. ... Composting toilets use biological processes to deal with the disposal and processing of human excrement into organic compost material. ... Earth covered farm houses in Keldur, Iceland. ... Re-creation of Viking houses in Labrador Several grass roofs can be seen in the village of BÃ¸ur in the Faroe Islands. ... Rammed Earth is an old building material that has seen a revival in recent years as people seek low-impact building materials and natural building methods. ... Sheet composting is the process of composting organic matter directly onto the soil as a mulch and letting it decay there, rather than in a heap. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Solar Tower. ... Straw-bale construction is a building method that uses straw bales as structural elements, insulation, or both. ... A windcatcher (Badgir; Ø¨Ø§Ø¯Ú¯ÛŒØ±) is a traditional Persian architectural device used for many centuries to create natural ventilation in buildings. ... Green Map of Cambridge, Massachusetts Green Maps are environmentally themed maps which are usually created as a grassroots effort with a symbol set licensed from the non-profit Green Map System. ... Autonomy is the condition of something that does not depend on anything else. ... Sustainable development is a collection of methods to create and sustain development which seeks to relieve poverty, create equitable standards of living, satisfy the basic needs of all peoples, and establish sustainable political practices all while taking the steps necessary to avoid irreversible damages to natural capital in the long... Sustainable living might best be defined as a lifestyle that could, hypothetically, be sustained unmodified for many generations without exhausting any natural resources. ... The Natural Step is a systematic definition of sustainability developed by Swedish scientist, Karl-Henrik RobÃ¨rt. ... Permaculture Mandala summarising the ethics and principles of permaculture design. ... Similar or related terms: Near zero energy building, Zero energy house, Near zero energy house A zero energy building (ZEB) can be described as structure with a net energy consumption of zero over a typical year. ... Zoning in Permaculture design refers to a method of ensuring that elements are correctly placed. ... Ecosystem services are processes by which the natural environment produces resources useful to people. ... Kardashev scale projections ranging from 1900 to 2100. ... The ton of oil equivalent (TOE) is a unit for measuring energy. ... In economics, value of Earth is the ultimate in ecosystem valuation, and important to value of life calculations. ... Infrastructural capital refers to any physical means of production or means of protection beyond that which can be gathered or found directly in nature, i. ...

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