The Technology Context – B101

ONE STEP CLOSER TO HEALTHIER LIVES.

Introduction
This report is based on a project of my choice, which is already being developed – solar powered vending machine. This is the perfect example that shows how much people can achieve without using up limited resources and that sustainable technology could give us better lives. The main objective of this report is to describe the project background and objectives, issues that arise from financial perspective and concentrate a bit more on sustainable technologies in general.

Project’s advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

Project background and objectives.
The solar powered vending machines that save energy massively, were first invented by Graham Smith. This great inventor who was only secondary school educated was born in Southampton in 1964 has also introduced many more projects such as all in one toothbrush, safety fork and spade, safety handles for wheelbarrows, watering systems for plants. Since 2004 SEV Ltd, Anglo-Spanish firm, took over the idea of solar powered vending machines and started developing it further. SEV Ltd was working so hard to make sure that the vending machines developed the best result for keeping the drinks and the food cold enough for a long time. It also contains a battery that charges during sunny periods and lasts up to seven days. It produces power at night or during cloudy days. When this machine is out of drinks or food it goes off automatically and does not accept any more coins.
Nowadays companies all over the world try to create more and more solar powered products. The graph below presents the increase in usage of renewable energy from 1993 till 2002 in megawatts per year. As we can see in the early 1990s the renewable energy was not so popular. But as we review the figures for 2002 we can see a great increase in usage of this energy.



The main objective of solar powered vending machines project is the reduction of power consumption worldwide and saving environment as it is powered by the sun. Another aim is for the machine to be placed where the electricity is not reachable, so wherever the customers are the machine can be located as long as there is direct sunlight. An obvious example would be the beach. As I was traveling to the south of Spain I had witnessed one of environmentally friendly vending machine on its own right on the beach with no cables or wires. Not so long ago those machines had been placed at beaches and golf courses all over Spain and some parts of the UK. The company itself keeps searching for investors so the locations are yet to be expanded.
A lot of research had been done on energy consumption and it presented unbelievable figures: one usual drinks vending machine consumes a lot more electricity than three homes put all together. In case of stopping using those machines an incredible amount of energy will be saved which could be used for far more important things.
Those above are just the main objectives of creating solar powered vending machines. But every project has certain issues, so does this one. At some point, for example when you are at a leisure place or surrounded by natural beauty, you would not want it all to be ruined by a solar powered vending machine, it is just not ‘pleasing on the eye’. It has been said that those machines would destroy natural beauty.

Financial Issues
One of the advantages of owning this machine is that it is a great place for advertising and any income gained will not be taxed as it uses solar energy instead of conventional mains electricity. So here comes another issue of the cost of purchasing the machine itself, the price would be much higher as it would technically make more profits than a normal vending machine.
Another problem is that the maintenance would be too costly as it is not exactly the most popular product and it is not yet spread widely enough to be well known how to repair. As I have mentioned above the battery can last up to seven days, but what if cloudy weather stays for more than that? The battery would eventually die. This is one more issue to consider.

Sustainable technology objectives and issues.
Statistics show that over the last century the number of people living on earth has doubled. Majority of the people use huge amount of earth’s limited resources such as water, energy and land. There is a big chance of running out of those resources if we will not find a way of reducing the usage or completely replacing those resources with something else.
Sustainability is a capability of being maintained at a steady level without exhausting natural resources or causing ecological damage. There are several objectives of developing sustainable technologies such as using fewer limited resources. Sustainable technologies do not directly or indirectly pollute the environment and also do not use up natural resources.
Although there is an issue of high cost in a short run and a high maintenance requirement, in the long run it is profitable, ecologically balanced and therefore improving quality of life. These technologies can also be reused or recycled at the end of their useful life.

Sustainable economy Vs Global economy
Sustainable business organizations concentrate on current market to present new forces in business: environmentally friendly products and services, therefore increasing demand for them. Due to competitiveness sustainable technologies breakthrough to current markets eventually makes other companies to consider and concentrate on environmental risk factors. But what ideas sustainable economy share with global economy? They both must produce profits; it is just that decisions in sustainable economy are based on environmental point of view.
Sustainable technology is very powerful and benefits to our environment: people, profits and our planet fit perfectly with each other in this case. It is also called “green” or “clean” technology as we use it to rescue the environment. From financial point of view the sustainable technology is always a good, long lasting business; the shareholders, partners and investors will be benefiting all the way as the demand for it is growing very fast. When the first solar water systems and bulky solar panels were introduced they were too expensive to purchase and so the investors did not make much profits as those techniques were not yet widely known and recognized without the help of government. As of now people are thinking of the future environment more and if using “green and clean “ technology it will give us better life. Therefore sustainable technology is gaining strength fast. Investors are thinking of the projects in the long run, making sure it will not have an outcome damaging the environment. And at the same time by investing in an environmentally friendly project they would still be making big profits.

Conclusion
When technologies are being designed, when we choose and use the technologies we ought to think of sustainability because we play a huge part in our nature, we can make a better world in the future. Sustainable technology has its down sides such as high costs. But on the other hand it is an opportunity to live healthier lives, stop the pollution and environmental damage. As I have demonstrated solar powered vending machine is a good example of sustainable technology. The machine does not require any electricity as it uses direct sunlight, at the same time it is profitable as there are no electricity bills and it is income tax free. The solar power market is capable of growing further in the long run.





References

• Elliott, D. (1997). Energy, Society and Environment: Technology for a sustainable future. Routledge: London
• Robert L. Thayer, Jr. (1994). Gray world, green heart: Technology, Nature and the Sustainable Landscape. John Wiley & Sons, Inc: Canada
• The real goods solar living sourcebook: The complete guide to renewable energy. Technologies and sustainable living. (1994), 8th ed., Chelsea Green Publishing Company: Vermont
• http://www.solarvending.com/