Sociotechnical Systems
There are several ways to categorize elements of our energy system that encompass both social and technical elements.
Public Ownership
Hoover Dam is owned by the federal government and operated by the US Bureau of Reclamation.
Private Ownership
A solar photovoltaic array on a home rooftop in many cases is owned by a private corporation.
Individual Ownership
A solar water heater on a rooftop would likely be completely owned by the homeowner.
Commons
A good that is difficult to exclude others from extracting benefits. Examples include atmospheres, oceans, and forests.
Commodification
The transformation of things (goods, nature, people, animals) into objects of trade.
Energy Democracy
- What systems of energy production and distribution provide mechanisms for citizen input on decisions?
- What systems create negative impacts on citizens with no opportunity to change things?
- Are the benefits of renewable energy available to all?
- Should renewable energy be commodified or remain a commons?
Hard and Soft Energy Paths
Introduced by Amory Lovins in 1976. He defines soft energy paths as energy systems that:
- Rely on renewable energy flows “energy income, not on depletable energy capital”
- Diversity
- Flexible relatively low-technology
- Matched in scale and location to needs
- Matched in energy quality to needs
Lovins points out several social implications of hard and soft paths. He claims hard paths of centralized systems and control move power away from communities with the potential to impose burdens on communities. He also claims that soft paths move power and agency toward communities providing social benefits.