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.).
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.
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 definitionedit
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.
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 linksedit
American energy: The renewable path to energy security
Distributed Energy -- The Journal for Onsite Power Solutions
January 01, 1970
soft, energy, technology, soft, energy, technologies, seen, appropriate, renewable, technologies, soft, energy, technologies, simply, renewable, energy, technologies, there, many, renewable, energy, technologies, which, regarded, soft, character, string, inclu. 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 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 Contents 1 Definition 2 Sociological definition 3 Traditional technologies 4 See also 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksDefinition editMore 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 editThe 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 editBadgirs or Windcatcher Ksars Jaali Patio RiadSee also edit nbsp Energy portal nbsp Renewable energy portal Community wind energy Energy conservation Renewable energy Renewable energy commercialization Efficient energy useReferences edit a b The soft energy path Archived 2007 02 22 at the Wayback Machine a b Lovins 1977 pp 38 39 see Lovins 1977 p 38 see Lovins 1977 Morrison amp Lodwick 1981Bibliography editLovins 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 editAmory Lovins on the Soft Energy Path American energy The renewable path to energy security Distributed Energy The Journal for Onsite Power Solutions Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Soft energy technology amp oldid 1182107414, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
