SCALE EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

date=January 18, 2014
tags=<ESM102> <appropriate scale>

1. Technology includes:

• machines
• social context and rules for the use
• information
• tacit knowledge - i.e. how to do stuff

2. Targeted at a particular scale

• can reduce several types of waste
• some technology is too specific - need a different tool for each task
  • examples: need a different type of transportation (hybrid car, truck, )
  • energy used to create and maintain all the alternatives
• some technology is to large - excess energy or embedded costs
  • big trucks allowed on almost all roads and bridges

3. Examples for consideration:

• see how to study this later with Life Cycle Analysis
• horse vs. tractor
• drip irrigation vs big scale water projects

References

Schumacher - Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered

Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appropriate_technology