Appropriate Technology News
John Barrie + Low Cost LED Light
The Ann Arbor News had a nice article about the Appropriate Technology Collaborative on Sunday, Dec 16th.
ATC is a new tech firm working on creating affordable technologies that solve problems for the 2.1 billion people who live on less than $2.00 per day.
From the Ann Arbor News:
Helpful inventors give away ideas
Architect spearheads nonprofit
John Barrie is interested in a different kind of client.
Oh, it’s not that the folks who’ve hired his Ann Arbor architecture firm haven’t been great - and let him pursue his passion for environmentally sound design.
But, well … there are people who are in a position to pay a whole lot less - in fact, nothing - and who need a whole lot more.
With his family’s blessing, Barrie is transitioning from his life as the principal at the firm that carries his name to full-time executive director of the nonprofit Appropriate Technology Collaborative.
When he talks about it, it’s easy to believe that this is a man who’s eager to get up each morning.
“We can reach 1 million people in five years,” Barrie says. “It’s absolutely realistic.”
Those people are the low-income residents of places in the developing world where there’s little or no electrical service, clean water or sanitation; where health suffers because vaccines spoil and the available fuels foul the air.
They are, in other words, people not served by appropriate technology.
Barrie and his cohorts have a plan to change that.
And it’s elegantly simple.
Working individually and cooperatively, designers, engineers and other like-minded, inventive souls can devise solutions to what are, in the end, technology problems. Let’s say lighting in a place where power is intermittent or nonexistent.
A solution deemed appropriate - that is economically feasible, environmentally sound and sustainable - is given away.
Right. It’s free.
“You can have the plan and make the device for yourself,” Barrie says. “You can use it to go into business and provide these technologies to your community.”
The drawing will be on the Web. “We’re just going to ask people to let us know they’re using them,” Barrie says.
More at the Ann Arbor News
Ann Arbor News article by Judy McGovern
Photo Credit: Lon Horwedel, The Ann Arbor News
May 1st, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Hello, I have a website on the subject of solar energy and I was looking for other sites that might be interested in exchanging links. My site is http://www.findportablesolarpower.com
Solar Chargers
May 1st, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Hello, I have a website on the subject of solar energy and solar chargers.
I was looking for other sites on renewable energy, enivorment, and technology, that might be interested in contributing content, and/or link exchange, etc. My site is http://www.findportablesolarpower.com
Solar Chargers.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:34 am
This is really interesting stuff. I own a lighting company and new projects and ideas always attract my attention. Good Luck with it all.
August 18th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
i think its great to think of the poor people and make a great lighting device for them
October 14th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
I can’t imagine living on less than $2 a day. That lighting device is looking good, I think it’s amazing what you’re working for. Keep up the good work.
February 10th, 2009 at 10:33 am
What a great idea, I hope this takes off, lighting up lives is the future!
March 25th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
It’s getting so ,we can’t seem to build ,or grow ,or produce anything ,in this country anymore,without corporate greed,and without,polluting the environment,or constantly cutting down,the rain forests,to grow grass for cattle,ad infinitum,instead of practicing sustainable agricultural ,and manufacturing practices.
March 25th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
We,may say we want clean,air,water,and soil,yet,it always seems to cost too much,or is called impractical.Money,is the end all,and be all when it comes to,corporate interests,if it cuts into their bottom line,it can’t be allowed,so they make it, more costly,thus making the status quo,the rule.
no pain ! no gain !
WHEN NEW TECHNOLOGY SUPPLANTS THE OLD,TECHNOLOGY THE OLD TECHNOLOGY DIES HARD FOR LACK OF THE WILLGNESS TO LOSE OUT TO THE NEW.
March 10th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Hello, I’d just like to say, what a interesting site! i am in the process of doing a bit of research for my wordpress blog but i had a problem reading this article due to the text sticking out in to the side menu…. Edit: apologies, my fault, its my ancient version of opera causing the fault. Could be worth telling people to update. Thanks.
May 28th, 2010 at 11:16 pm
Hello! Have been looking into renewable energy sources that i can just setup at home, and solar energy was a definitely on my checklist. The post is just making me want to get some small solar panel systems installed on my roof so bad. I initially planned to buy them, but they are quite expensive at the moment, think im gonna look up a way to build some cells at home and give em a whirl. Well, thanks again for the post, really good insight into this area.