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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 [[emission]]s at the source of generation.
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 [[emission]]s at the source of generation.


Alternative technologies themselves are part of the [[Environmentalism|politics of the environment]]. Common political issues related to alternative technologies include whether they are practical for widespread use; whether 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.
Alternative technologies themselves are part of the [[Environmentalism|politics of the environment]]. Common political issues related to alternative technologies include whether they are practical for widespread use; whether they are cost-effective; whether widespread adoption would produce negative impacts on the economy, lifestyle or enviroment (production energy costs/pollutants) ; how to encourage rapid adoption; whether 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.


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 For example, a class of chemicals known as [[CFC]]s have been replaced by more ozone-friendly chemicals, such as HFCs and [[HCFC]]s.
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 [[CFC]]s have been replaced by more ozone-friendly chemicals, such as HFCs and [[HCFC]]s.

Revision as of 14:59, 16 December 2005

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.

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.

Alternative technologies themselves are part of the politics of the environment. Common political issues related to alternative technologies include whether they are practical for widespread use; whether they are cost-effective; whether widespread adoption would produce negative impacts on the economy, lifestyle or enviroment (production energy costs/pollutants) ; how to encourage rapid adoption; whether 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.

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.

The term is sometimes confused with Appropriate technology for developing countries - although there is some overlap, the terms have different meanings, particularly related to the importance of low cost and ease of maintenance for developing country applications.

Some alternative technologies

Some companies developing alternative technologies

See also

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