Editing Alternative technology (section)

{{about|environmentally-friendly technologies|websites and platforms that position themselves as alternatives to mainstream offerings|alt-tech}}
'''Alternative technology''' is a term used to refer to technologies that are more [[environmentally friendly]] than the functionally equivalent technologies dominant in current practice. The term was coined by [[Peter Harper (alternative technologist)|Peter Harper]],<ref name="Reunion broadcast">{{cite web |title=The Reunion - The Centre for Alternative Technology - BBC Sounds |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b01s393k |website=www.bbc.co.uk |accessdate=11 July 2019 |date=28 April 2014}}</ref>{{rp|13.59}} one of the founders of the [[Centre for Alternative Technology]], [[North Wales]] (a.k.a. ''The Quarry''),<ref name="Reunion broadcast" />{{rp|02.24}} in [[Undercurrents (magazine)]] in the 1970s. Alternative Technologies are created to be safer, cleaner, and overall more efficient.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.epa.gov/rmp/chemical-safety-alert-safer-technology-and-alternatives|title=Chemical Safety Alert: Safer Technology and Alternatives|last=US EPA|first=OLEM|date=2015-06-05|website=US EPA|language=en|access-date=2019-12-09}}</ref> The goals of alternative technology are to decrease demand for critical elements by ensuring a secure supply of technology that is environmentally friendly, increased efficiency with lower costs, and with more common materials to avoid potential future materials crises.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://web.mit.edu/12.000/www/m2016/finalwebsite/solutions/alttechnology.html|title=Alternative Technology|website=web.mit.edu|access-date=2019-12-09}}</ref> Alternative technologies use [[renewable energy]] sources such as solar power and wind energy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.justenergy.com/blog/7-types-of-renewable-energy-the-future-of-energy/|title=7 Types of Renewable Energy: The Future of Energy - Just Energy Blog|date=8 November 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-09}}</ref> Some alternative technologies have in the past or may in the future become widely adopted, after which they might no longer be considered "alternative."  For example, the use of [[wind turbine]]s<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.energy.gov/eere/wind/how-do-wind-turbines-work|title=How Do Wind Turbines Work?|website=Energy.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-10-04}}</ref> to produce electricity.