connecting minds sustainable technology

Sustainable Technology – making the best of a good job

“Sustainable technology” is one of those catchy phrases that pop in and out of public discourse, in the media and the internet, but without always being properly explained.

This is probably because there are as many definitions as there are sustainable technologies; but this shouldn’t prevent us from attempting here to clarify the subject and give some background.

“Sustainable technology” is the development, release and distribution of environmentally friendly technological products.

The products can be good for the environment either because of how they are built, or their function, or in a combination of form and function.

“Sustainability” comes in to the equation in two ways. First, “sustainable” products are deliberately built to endure, to have a healthy shelf life. Second, they make a contribution to the overall sustainability of the planet by fitting in well with the world they serve. For instance, they may leave a low carbon footprint (e.g. power-saving printers). They may be built more compactly so as to leave more space for us to live in (e.g. compact PCs), or they may be easily recycled.

A classic example of sustainable technology is the windup radio, as patented by Trevor Baylis in 1989. As it does not require batteries or a power supply this piece of technology is ideal for developing countries, but also for any remote location that may not be fully equipped. On a larger scale, solar panels, which generate an electrical supply from sunlight, also demonstrate sustainable technology at work.