How Circular is the Circular Economy?
High-tech problemsAs long as we keep accumulating raw materials, the closing of the material life cycle remains an illusion, even for materials that are, in principle, recyclable.
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Keeping Some of the Lights On: Redefining Energy Security
Low-tech solutionsTo improve energy security, we need to make infrastructures less reliable.
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How to Build a Low-tech Website?
Low-tech SolutionsOur new blog is designed to radically reduce the energy use associated with accessing our content.
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Could We Dredge the Netherlands Without Fossil Fuels?
Obsolete TechnologyFor centuries, the Netherlands were mainly dredged by hand, supplemented by animal power, wind power and tidal power. Could it be done again?
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We Can’t Do It Ourselves
High-tech problemsHow to live a more sustainable life? By placing responsibility squarely on the individual, attention is deflected away from the many institutions involved in structuring possible courses of action.
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Ditch the Batteries: Off-Grid Compressed Air Energy Storage
Low-tech SolutionsCompressed air energy storage is the sustainable and resilient alternative to chemical batteries, with much longer life expectancy, lower life cycle costs, technical simplicity, and low maintenance.
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History and Future of the Compressed Air Economy
Obsolete TechnologyHistorical compressed air systems hold the key to the design of a low-tech, low-cost, robust, sustainable and relatively energy efficient energy storage medium.
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How Much Energy Do We Need?
Low-tech SolutionsResearchers have calculated minimum levels of energy use needed to live a decent life, but what about maximum levels?
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Bedazzled by Energy Efficiency
High-tech ProblemsTo focus on energy efficiency is to make present ways of life non-negotiable.
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How to Run the Economy on the Weather
Low-tech SolutionsAdjusting energy demand to supply would make switching to renewable energy much more realistic than it is today.
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How (Not) to Run a Modern Society on Solar and Wind Power Alone
High-Tech ProblemsMatching supply to demand at all times makes renewable power production a complex, slow, expensive and unsustainable undertaking.
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Could We Run Modern Society on Human Power Alone?
Low-tech SolutionsUnlike solar and wind energy, human power is always available, no matter the season or time of day.
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Heat Storage Hypocausts: Air Heating in the Middle Ages
Obsolete TechnologyThe heat storage hypocaust could keep a room warm for days with just one firing of the furnace.