Abstract
This paper introduces a new methodology for the development of appropriate technology that allows satisfying energy needs in rural communities. The methodology integrates the technological development, taking particularly into account the assessment of environmental impacts as well as evaluation of the functionality of the technology. Therefore, it is implemented as a case study in the development of a solar wood-dryer in an artisan community in Mexico. Relevant issues were identified for the success of the methodology, which includes identifying key participants in the community, as well as the use of specialized simulation- and computer-based design tools, and a prior evaluation of the potential environmental impacts through Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the solar wood-dryer. Three geometries of a solar wood-dryer prototype were proposed and analyzed with computer-based simulations, which showed better interior heat transfer than the traditional wood brick-dryer. LCA revealed that the new solar wood-dryer prototype has environmental impacts in all analyzed categories that are 5% or smaller than those of the traditional dryer. Therefore, it was demonstrated that the solar wood-dryer developed with our introduced methodology leads to less environmental impacts compared to those of the traditional wood brick-dryer previously used by the rural community.
Highlights
The importance of reducing the lack of access to energy sources in order to meet needs in the rural sector has an increasing interest in the local technological development
There are efforts to develop technologies within the framework of Ecotechnology, where emphasis is placed on developing technology with the least environmental impacts [8] but these efforts do not articulate an integral scheme from the identification of needs
The integration of all these characteristics is crucial because it contributes to a successful functionality and operability of the proposed appropriate technology
Summary
The importance of reducing the lack of access to energy sources in order to meet needs in the rural sector has an increasing interest in the local technological development. In this context, universities, private initiatives, and civil society organizations can promote projects that bring technologies to marginalized communities [1]. Some projects related to the implementation of wood-saving stoves in rural communities lacked the environmental impact analysis of technology and the user participation [4]. In a project of solar ovens for rural communities, the authors considered social variables and the evaluation of the energy potential for vulnerable communities [6] but their work lacks environmental impact assessment of the technology. There are efforts to develop technologies within the framework of Ecotechnology, where emphasis is placed on developing technology with the least environmental impacts [8] but these efforts do not articulate an integral scheme from the identification of needs
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