--- title: "Appropriate technology explained" subject: "Energy Environment and Society" chapter: 1 key: "semester_7/energy_environment_and_society:appropriate-technology-explain" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/energy_environment_and_society/appropriate-technology-explain site: BCT Engineering --- # Appropriate technology explained Energy Environment and Society · Chapter 1: Technology and Development - Asked in: 2072 Chaitra; 2070 Asar, 3 marks; 2069 Chaitra, 2 marks (asked 3 times) - Video: [Appropriate Technology](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrYEGbAZhzc) — ABC Science - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/energy_environment_and_society/appropriate-technology-explain - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/energy_environment_and_society/chapter-1 ## Question What is Appropriate Technology? Explain it in detail. ## Short answer Appropriate technology is small-scale, low-cost, simple, environmentally friendly technology suited to local social, economic, cultural and skill conditions, popularized by Schumacher. It uses local materials and labour, is easy to maintain, and examples in Nepal include biogas, micro-hydro, solar home systems and improved cooking stoves. It is the right technology for the situation, not necessarily old or low technology. ## Answer **Appropriate technology (AT)** is technology that suits the local social, economic, cultural, environmental and skill conditions of the place where it is used. It is usually small in scale, low in cost, simple to operate and repair, uses local materials and labour, and does little harm to the environment. The idea was popularised by E. F. Schumacher in *Small Is Beautiful* ("intermediate technology"). It is not "old" or "low" technology: it is the *right* technology for the situation. Examples in Nepal: biogas plants, improved cooking stoves, micro-hydro with peltric sets, solar home systems and solar dryers, ropeways, gravity-fed drinking-water schemes, treadle pumps and the traditional *ghatta* (water mill) upgraded to an improved water mill. #### Characteristics - **Low cost:** affordable to poor households and communities, with low investment per unit. - **Small scale:** can be built for a village or a household, not only for big cities. - **Local resources:** uses local materials, labour and skills, so money stays in the community. - **Simple and easy to maintain:** local technicians can operate and repair it without imported parts. - **Labour-intensive where needed:** creates local jobs instead of replacing workers. - **Environment friendly:** low pollution and low use of non-renewable resources. - **Culturally acceptable:** fits local customs, climate and needs. - **Decentralised and community managed:** local people own and control it. #### Why it is needed - Large, imported, capital-intensive technology often fails in rural areas because of cost, skill gaps and lack of spare parts. - AT uses what the community already has, so it is easier to sustain. - It reduces dependence on imported fuel, which matters for Nepal. #### Limitations - Low output and small capacity, so it cannot meet all industrial needs. - It may be seen as "second class" technology, and it needs subsidy and training in the beginning. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Appropriate technology is best described as technology that: A. suits the local social, economic, cultural, environmental and skill conditions of its place of use B. is the most advanced and capital-intensive option available C. is old or low technology that has been replaced by modern methods D. is imported from developed countries and run by foreign experts Answer: A. AT is the 'right' technology for the situation: small, low cost, locally maintainable and low-impact. It is not simply old or low technology. (Key point: AT definition) 2. Which set of features is typical of appropriate technology? A. High capital cost, large scale, imported spare parts B. Low cost, small scale, uses local materials and skills, easy to repair C. Centralised control, complex operation, foreign skills D. Labour-saving automation that replaces local workers Answer: B. AT is cheap, small-scale, locally resourced and simple enough for local technicians to maintain; it is labour-intensive where needed. (Key point: AT characteristics) 3. Why do large, imported, capital-intensive technologies often fail in rural areas? A. Because they pollute less than local technology B. Because villagers refuse all electricity C. Because of high cost, skill gaps and lack of spare parts D. Because they always produce too little output Answer: C. The answer says imported capital-intensive technology fails due to cost, skill gaps and missing spare parts, while AT uses what the community already has. (Key point: Why AT is needed) 4. Which is a limitation of appropriate technology? A. It cannot be repaired locally B. It always damages the environment C. It needs imported fuel to operate D. Low output and small capacity, so it cannot meet all industrial needs Answer: D. AT is small in capacity and may need subsidy and training at the start, so it cannot supply large industrial demand. (Key point: Limitations of AT) ## Related in Energy Environment and Society - [Appropriate technology and sustainable development elements](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Aappropriate-technology-sustainable-elements) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 1 - [Appropriate technology and impact on society](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Aappropriate-technology-society-impact) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 1 - [Appropriate technology for Nepal transport](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Aappropriate-technology-nepal-transport) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 1 - [Characteristics of appropriate technology](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Aappropriate-technology-characteristics) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 1 - [Impact of technology, sustainable development](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Atechnology-impact-society-sustainable) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 1 ## Related in other subjects - [Short note: Appropriate technology](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aappropriate-technology-note) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 1, asked 2× - [Appropriate, intermediate and labor-based technology for LDCs](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aappropriate-intermediate-labor-ldc) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 1, asked 2× - [Technology impact and appropriate technology for LDC](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Atech-impact-appropriate-ldc) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 1 - [Short note: Appropriate technology in Nepal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aappropriate-tech-nepal) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 1