Soft energy technology

Short description: Simple designs reliant on renewables

Solar energy technologies, such as solar water heaters, located on or near the buildings which they supply with energy, are a prime example of a soft energy technology.

Soft energy technologies may be seen as appropriate renewable technologies.[1] Soft energy technologies are not simply renewable energy technologies, as there are many renewable energy technologies which are not regarded as "soft". The character string including "Soft Energy" is a registered trademark of Soft Energy Controls Inc. in Japan (JP (Japan), 28.12.2018, 6110341.).

## Contents

* 1 Definition
* 2 Sociological definition
* 3 Traditional technologies
* 4 See also
* 5 References
* 6 Bibliography
* 7 External links

## Definition

More specifically, soft energy technologies have five defining characteristics.[2] They rely on renewable energy resources, are diverse and designed for maximum effectiveness in particular circumstances, are flexible and relatively simple to understand, are matched to end-use needs in terms of scale, and are matched to end-use needs in terms of quality. An energy technology must satisfy all five of these criteria to be soft.[2]

Residential solar energy technologies are prime examples of soft energy technologies and rapid deployment of simple, energy conserving, residential solar energy technologies is fundamental to a soft energy strategy. Active residential solar technologies use special devices to collect and convert the sun's rays to useful energy and are located near the users they supply. Passive residential solar technologies involve the natural transfer (by radiation, convection and conduction) of solar energy without the use of mechanical (active) devices.

## Sociological definition

The term soft is not meant to be vague, speculative, or ephemeral, but rather sustainable, flexible, resilient, and benign.[3] Soft technology impacts are generally seen to be more "gentle, pleasant and manageable" than high technology impacts. These impacts range from the individual and household level to those affecting the very fabric of society at the national and international level.[4] More specifically, favourable socio-political impacts include:[5]

* reduction in social conflicts and inequalities;
* reduction in population concentration;
* increase in employment, especially for the lower social classes;
* increase in the satisfaction of basic human needs;
* increase in consumer self-sufficiency; and
* increase in social participation and democratic processes.

The use of soft energy technologies, in conjunction with energy efficiency, and the transitional use of fossil fuel technology, comprise the soft energy path.[1]

## Traditional technologies

* Badgirs or Windcatcher
* Ksars
* Jaali
* Patio
* Riad

## See also

* Community wind energy
* Energy conservation
* Renewable energy
* Renewable energy commercialization
* Efficient energy use

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 The soft energy path
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lovins, 1977, pp.38-39
3. ↑ see Lovins, 1977, p.38
4. ↑ see Lovins, 1977
5. ↑ Morrison & Lodwick, 1981

## Bibliography

* Lovins, Amory B., (1977). Soft Energy Paths: Toward a Durable Peace, Penguin Books.
* Morrison, D.E., and Lodwick D.G. (1981). "The social impacts of soft and hard energy systems", Annual Review of Energy, 6, 357–378.

## External links

* Amory Lovins on the Soft Energy Path
* American energy: The renewable path to energy security
* Distributed Energy -- The Journal for Onsite Power Solutions
* Renewable Energy Courses

* v
* t
* e

Amory Lovins

* Hunter Lovins
* Hypercar
* Negawatt power
* Rocky Mountain Institute
* Soft energy path
* Soft energy technology

Select
bibliography|

| Energy policy|

* Reinventing Fire: Bold Business Solutions for the New Energy Era (2011)
* Winning the Oil Endgame: Innovation for Profit, Jobs and Security (2005)
* Small is Profitable: The Hidden Economic Benefits of
Making Electrical Resources the Right Size (2003)
* Energy Strategy for National Security (1982 re-released in 2001)
* Non-Nuclear Futures: The Case for an Ethical Energy Strategy (1980)
* Towards a Durable Peace (1977)

|

Environment|

* Creating the Next Industrial Revolution (2000)

Filmography|

* Lovins on the Soft Path: An Energy Future with a Future (1982)

* v
* t
* e

Environmental technology

* Appropriate technology
* Clean technology
* Environmental design
* Environmental impact assessment
* Sustainable development
* Sustainable technology

Pollution|

* Air pollution (control
* dispersion modeling)
* Industrial ecology
* Solid waste treatment
* Waste management
* Water (agricultural wastewater treatment
* industrial wastewater treatment
* sewage treatment
* waste-water treatment technologies
* water purification)

Renewable energy|

* Alternative energy
* Efficient energy use
* Energy development
* Energy recovery
* Fuel (alternative fuel
* biofuel
* carbon negative fuel
* hydrogen technologies)
* List of energy storage projects
* Renewable energy (commercialization)
* Sustainable energy
* Transportation (electric vehicle
* hybrid vehicle)

Conservation|

* Birth control
* Building (green
* natural
* sustainable architecture
* New Urbanism
* New Classical)
* Conservation biology
* Conservation ethic
* Ecoforestry
* Environmental preservation
* Environmental remediation
* Green computing
* Permaculture
* Recycling

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