Hanns H. Höfle
Abstract
Clear, objective and quantitative criteria must be developed in order to find out which technologies are friendly to the environment. It is analysed why technologies were in lien with the environment in the past and why and to what extent technologies make a negative impact on the environment nowadays.
Environmentally friendly technologies can only be designed and applied if a systems approach is used. This implies that attitudes of manufacturers, managers and practitioners must be changed, that all the elements have to be taken into account, that site specific solutions are found, that the technologies are worked out in detail, that costs and benefits are quantified in the short-run as well as in the long-run and that the prerequisites for the use of optimal technologies are specified.
Keywords: Technology, environment, criteria, systems approach, site specific solutions.
OE Nov 21, 1996