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'''Sustainable design''' or '''sustainable technology''' as practiced in 2008 is somewhat similar to what was called '[[Appropriate technology]]' in the 1970's, perhaps best symbolized by the ''[[Whole Earth Catalog]]'', but also involving a large network of people inventing very creative soft technology and lifestyle changing methods and ideas. Since those resources are mostly not online you can expect to discover lots of good stuff in the archives of some of the journals like [[RAIN magazine]] and [[Popular Science]].
'''Sustainable design''' and '''sustainable technology''' are similar in concept to [[appropriate technology]] but broader, including both high technology and very low technology. Sustainable technology may be more expensive up front, but offers savings through efficient operation; or it may be cheaper up-front through simpler design.


The main differences in today's version of [[sustainable design]] are:
It also involves a large network of people inventing very creative soft technology and methods and ideas for "[[green living]]".
* sustainable technology is primarily concerned with minimizing [[environmental impact]], whereas appropriate technology is concerned with the needs of those living on limited material resources (whether by choice or not).
* its systematic use in [[architecture]] and planning in the commercial world.  That is best symbolized by the enormous success of the [[LEED]] program of the US [[Green Buildings Council]] and the [[Green Globes]] industry association, and the US [[Federal Whole Building Design Guide]], and the [[Athena]] life-cycle project impact assessment tool.  There are now also numerous profit and non-profit product rating and selection web sites and large professional association design standards, such as the [[ASRAE]] engineering standard [[SPC 189]].  Many of these subjects are referenced on [[Wikipedia]] too, under either '[[sustainability]]]' or '[[sustainable design]]'.


There are also a variety of methods and organizations aimed at the systematic application of deeper green design principles.  They include [[BioMimicry]], [[Archtecture2030]], [[Cradle to Cradle]], [[4Dsustainability]] among others.
Sustainable technology can be considered a subset of sustainable design.


There are also major gaps in the 'appropriateness' of the technology being brought to bear, however.  Though some long range models of environmental impacts show a reduction in the future, it's also broadly recognized that the main achievement of all this effort is just to increase our impacts on the earth more efficiently...!  Nothing people are organizing to do is actually producing any total decrease in impacts, and the plans to change that are vague.  The basic reason appears to be that money is our measure of value and it takes the economy's physical energy and resources to produce make the choices we use it for, in direct proportion.  Because that's confusing to most people, and leading organizations and public discussions are not good at exploring complex questions, the subject is little discussed.
The main differences in today's version of sustainable design, compared to appropriate technology, are:


== See Also ==
* Sustainable technology is primarily concerned with minimizing [[environmental impact]], whereas appropriate technology is concerned with the needs of those living on limited material resources (whether by choice or not).
* [[:Category:Industrial ecology]]
* Its systematic use in [[architecture]] and planning in the commercial world, i.e. [[green building]].
** This is symbolized by the enormous success of the [[LEED]] program of the [[U.S. Green Building Council]] and the [[Green Globes]] industry association, and the US [[Federal Whole Building Design Guide]], and the [[Athena]] life-cycle project impact assessment tool. There are now also numerous profit and non-profit product rating and selection web sites and large professional association design standards, such as the [[ASRAE]] engineering standard [[SPC 189]]. Many of these subjects are referenced on [[Wikipedia]] too, under either '[[sustainability]]]' or '[[sustainable design]]'.
** [[Natural building]] is a more "appropriate technology" approach, in practice it is most appropriate to low-density building environments. Elements of natural building may be appropriate to areas of medium and high building density.


== Interwiki links ==
== Methodologies ==


* [[Wikipedia:Sustainable design]]
There are a variety of methods and organizations aimed at the systematic application of deeper green design principles. Methods include:
* [[Wikipedia:Category:Sustainable technologies]]
 
* [[Industrial ecology]]
* [[Biomimicry]]
 
Organizations include:
 
* [[BioMimicry]]
* [[Archtecture2030]]
* [[Cradle to Cradle]]
* [[4Dsustainability]]
 
== Limitations ==
 
There are also major gaps in the '[[appropriateness]]' of the technology being implemented, however. Though some long range models of environmental impacts show a reduction in the future, it can easily be argued that the main achievement of all this effort is just to increase our impacts on the earth more efficiently. Nothing people are organizing to do is actually producing any total decrease in impacts, and the plans to change that are vague. The basic reason appears to be that money is our measure of value and it takes the economy's physical energy and resources to produce make the choices we use it for, in direct proportion. Because that's confusing to most people, and leading organizations and public discussions are not good at exploring complex questions, the subject is little discussed.
 
== See also ==
 
* [[Industrial ecology]]
* [[:Category:Design]]
* [[Open design]]
* [[Open hardware]]
* [[Victor Papanek]]
* [[Wofati Eco building]]
* [[Blogs relevant to Appropedia]]


==External links==
== External links ==


*RAIN magazine http://www.rainmagazine.com/
* [[Wikipedia:Sustainable design]]


{{Page data}}


[[Category: Sustainability]]
[[Category:Sustainable technologies]]
[[Category: Design]]
[[Category:Sustainability]]
[[Category:Design]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Green]]

Latest revision as of 16:21, 1 June 2023

Sustainable design and sustainable technology are similar in concept to appropriate technology but broader, including both high technology and very low technology. Sustainable technology may be more expensive up front, but offers savings through efficient operation; or it may be cheaper up-front through simpler design.

It also involves a large network of people inventing very creative soft technology and methods and ideas for "green living".

Sustainable technology can be considered a subset of sustainable design.

The main differences in today's version of sustainable design, compared to appropriate technology, are:

  • Sustainable technology is primarily concerned with minimizing environmental impact, whereas appropriate technology is concerned with the needs of those living on limited material resources (whether by choice or not).
  • Its systematic use in architecture and planning in the commercial world, i.e. green building.
    • This is symbolized by the enormous success of the LEED program of the U.S. Green Building Council and the Green Globes industry association, and the US Federal Whole Building Design Guide, and the Athena life-cycle project impact assessment tool. There are now also numerous profit and non-profit product rating and selection web sites and large professional association design standards, such as the ASRAE engineering standard SPC 189. Many of these subjects are referenced on Wikipedia too, under either 'sustainability]' or 'sustainable design'.
    • Natural building is a more "appropriate technology" approach, in practice it is most appropriate to low-density building environments. Elements of natural building may be appropriate to areas of medium and high building density.

Methodologies[edit | edit source]

There are a variety of methods and organizations aimed at the systematic application of deeper green design principles. Methods include:

Organizations include:

Limitations[edit | edit source]

There are also major gaps in the 'appropriateness' of the technology being implemented, however. Though some long range models of environmental impacts show a reduction in the future, it can easily be argued that the main achievement of all this effort is just to increase our impacts on the earth more efficiently. Nothing people are organizing to do is actually producing any total decrease in impacts, and the plans to change that are vague. The basic reason appears to be that money is our measure of value and it takes the economy's physical energy and resources to produce make the choices we use it for, in direct proportion. Because that's confusing to most people, and leading organizations and public discussions are not good at exploring complex questions, the subject is little discussed.

See also[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

FA info icon.svg Angle down icon.svg Page data
Authors Phil Henshaw, Chris Watkins
License CC-BY-SA-3.0
Language English (en)
Translations Chinese
Related 1 subpages, 42 pages link here
Aliases Sustainable technology, Green design, Eco-design, Sustainable technologies, Green technology
Impact 1,541 page views
Created January 16, 2008 by Phil Henshaw
Modified June 1, 2023 by Felipe Schenone
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