Sustainable Futures

Many environmentalists argue against geo-engineering because it allows pollution to continue, then applies a 'fix' to clean it up
Environmentalists argue that a change in attitude is required, whereby we stop polluting in the first place
Many advocate the use of alternative energy technologies such as solar, wind and geothermal power
Technology and environmental sustainability are not mutually exclusive
It is possible to harness technology to maintain our lifestyles and the environment, for example through the use of microgeneration
Energy Microgeneration
1. Renewable microgeneration includes energy gained from small scale solar, wind, biomass and geothermal sources.
2. In most cases, energy is generated for an individual building such as a house
3. These are small-scale, bottom up projects, as householders themselves decide to install such systems
4. The systems themselves are relatively high tech
5. In 2008 around 100,000 systems were installed in the UK, compared with over 1 million in Germany
6. Solar thermal systems accounted for 90% of installed capacity in 2008
  1. Usually roof-mounted, they use the energy from sunlight to heat water
7. Direct generation of electricity from solar panels is popular in Germany, but less so in the UK
8. The potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel dependency is huge, but take up of microgeneration in the UK is low
9. Initial costs are high, often similar to the cost of buying a car, and savings are made over many years
10. These technologies are not for families on low incomes
11. Many sites are not suitable for micro wind turbines or solar power systems
12. Government grants to help with initial costs stopped in 2007 because demand was so high
13. The technology is not widely known about or is assumed to be unsuitable
14. Some estimates suggest there are 10 million sites in the UK that could benefit from some form of micro generation and that this could cut carbon emissions by 5%, or 30 million tonnes per year
15. Solar thermal panel provides hot water
  1. Most popular green technology in the UK
  2. Costs £3,000-4,500
16. Ground source heat pump provides heating and/or hot water pre-heating. System of pipes collects heat from the ground
  1. Costs £8,000-10,000
17. Solar photovoltaic panels cost £5,000-8,000
  1. Must face within 90 degrees of South
18. Micro-turbine costs £1,500-20,000 depending on size
  1. Many urban sites unsuitable due to turbulence
19. Biomass burning system replaces heating boiler
  1. Costs £3,000-12,000
Sustainability Quadrat
1. Equality
  1. Megaprojects involve both winners and losers
  2. Technology must be cheap, or grants and subsidies made available for low-income groups
  3. Negative externalities must be minimised
2. Futurity
  1. Technology needs to last. Replacement after a few years uses up resources
  2. Low-income groups need technology they can maintain and run themselves to avoid long-term costs
3. Environment
  1. Technology should produce minimal waste and pollution
  2. It should not deplete resources during manufacturing
  3. Materials used should be recyclable at end of life
4. Public Participation
  1. People must be involved
  2. Technology imposed from above, such as CCTV may lack public support

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Sustainable Futures

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	Created by Jodie Goodacre almost 11 years ago