Keep It Simple, Low Tech

A solar powered, hand cranked radio should be in every home in case of emergencies,
or for every day low tech enjoyment.

Our current age of technological advances and gadgetry makes it seem like everyone is on board with purchasing and upgrading all the latest gadgets ad naseum. But as popular as cell phones and DVD players may be, there has never been a technological uptake like there was with the lowly radio.

At first no one had a radio. And then shortly after they became common consumer items in the 1920s, nearly everyone had one in their homes. Radios were simple enough that many people built their own. Try that with an iPhone or laptop.

Traditional, low-cost, proven technologies like radios are still the most effective tool for reaching end users in the developing world. Or the developed world.

In Kenya, for example, more than 85 percent of the population has access to radio broadcasts at home, while only 60 percent own a mobile phone. In Uganda, 96 percent of the population listens to the radio on a weekly basis, but only 39 percent has access to mobile phones.

Even in high tech America, over 90% of people listen to the radio every week. It may be ancient technology in comparison to today's whiz-bang gadgets, but the basic radio still has its place the world over.

Often, the simplest solution is the best option, and such solutions should always be the first to be considered. You can always make things more complicated if you have to, but you probably won't need to in most cases.

As much as possible, the solutions we come up with for our personal and global challenges should keep it simple and low tech. It is vain and wasteful to do with more, what can be done with less. That goes for any project, including how one conducts one's life.

You can't beat the elegance and efficiency of simplicity.

Not Buying Any Upgrades

Is new better? Better for what? Mostly for increasing the profits of the scammers trying to sell us things we don't need. But things are changing and people are quitting the "new and improved" race.

We reached peak technology some time ago, and now upgrades no longer give us the bang for our buck that they used to. To fight this, there is a movement beginning that is turning back the clock on technology.

"Last year over 1 million PCs were dumped by British businesses. Most of this equipment ended up in landfill."

People are foisting their FB account, eschewing email, and lovingly handwriting letters. Many are moving the microwave out, parking the car and taking up biking again. On single speed bikes.

To help neo-Luddites along are low tech magazines spreading the word about leaving the upgrade game and going back to tried and true tools that never should have been left behind. Like a clothes line rather than an energy sucking dryer.

As one magazine says, "Every problem has a low tech solution".

People who live simply are often proponents of low tech living. The Amish are an excellent example of a group that refuses newer technologies to avoid undesirable effects on their communities. How do you use power tools and appliances when the power goes out?

"The average American spends almost $1400.00 annually on electronics."

Going low tech saves money. It prevents waste. Low tech is accessible to those that want to do it themselves, either building or repairing items. High tech is often fragile, while low tech is usually more robust and long-lasting. Low tech is low energy.

Counter to popular thinking, a small group of proponents feel that there will be no technological saves in our future. It is becoming increasingly obvious that our high tech is what has lead us to the brink of disaster.

While low tech has never gone away, it is about to become a lot more popular in our low energy future. It is time to say goodbye to high tech upgrades, and hello to a sustainable hand made, people powered future.

"Every year the world tosses 20 to 50 million metric tons of electronics. Only 10 - 18% is recycled."

Make It Last: Appliances/Electronics

Endless upgrades means endless waste

We aren't upgraders. The latest new and improved gadgets don't entice us to part with our cash. That is because the rule in our house is that things can't be replaced until they are broken or worn out.

Our 'make it last' approach has been like a lab experiment on product longevity. It has become a fun challenge to see how long we can stretch the usable life of our things.

Over the years we have been amazed how long things can last, like appliances and electronics. Many things, if cared for and used gently, can provide decades of faithful service.

Our old things do what we want, and only what we want, unlike newer products that load on multiple features of dubious value that rarely get used. It could be because the features are frivolous, or because they are too complicated for the average user to figure out. Either way, I don't need all the dazzling technology.

I'm no neo-Luddite, it's just that what I have is enough. I don't need to upgrade yet, and when I do, it will be to the simplest, most efficient model available. Until then, I introduce my collection of well-used 'make it last' items.

My Make It Last Appliances/Electronics

I don't need a microwave oven that rotates and stirs with 150 convenient pre-programmed settings. I just want heat. My old unit still provides that.

I have an 11 year old first-generation ipod that plays music perfectly, and could not be easier to use. There are no features beyond just playing music which is ok because all I want it to do is play music. You can't buy that kind of simplicity today.

Our kitchen blender, second hand from Linda's mom, is about 4 decades old. It is a functional antique, like a museum piece that still works fine. We use it almost daily for smoothies. It works well for creating creamy soups and chowders. I grind nuts and spices with it, and it matches our retro 70's kitchen.

A friend gave us his toaster oven 12 years ago before leaving for international travel. He never came back for it, and it has toasted thousands of pieces of bread successfully since then. The handle broke off a few years ago, which I replaced with a heavy duty paper clip.




Even the computer I am writing on is an ancient machine still faithfully providing service. It is now 7 years old, which is almost 100 (or is that 1000?) in computer years. It does everything I need it to do, although it is slowing down. But then, so am I. Speed is over-rated - slow and steady, as they say.

Can be seen in the Apple Museum, or my living room

By avoiding endless upgrades and making our stuff last, we have prevented useful items from ending up in landfills leaking toxic waste. We have also saved a lot of money.

We can afford to replace all of these items with brand new, shiny ones if we wanted to. But can the planet afford it? We don't think so.

To the average consumer, 'make it last' may look like extreme deprivation and poverty. It is not. It is the way to freedom. Less things to buy, less money to spend, less work to be done. Less maintenance, less life energy. Less waste.

We are living on a small planet with limited resources and an exploding population. Considering this, we think it is a good idea to use resources as efficiently as possible.

If it ain't broke, don't replace it.

Make it last.