Sunday, January 4, 2009

Growth through retrofitting and reclaiming

This global financial and economic crisis may also be the beginning of the end of the Western throw away society. But can our high end capitalism survive and keep people in jobs unless we endlessless produce, consume and throw away?

One direction for future growth is retrofitting and reclaiming.

Why throw away a whole car full of steel, plastics and electronics when much of it can be continously repaired and updated. This concept works with houses. People appreciate old houses with history but retrofit them continously with the latest modcons: lights, central heating, double glazing, roof insulation etc. This model should be possible to adapt for all sorts of other products, from big to small. Retrofitting and reclaiming is both labour and technology intensive and requires local craftsmenship.

In sum, retrofitting will waste less raw materials, use less energy, use more local labour and channel creative energy from always inventing new things to making old things better.

This still seems to be a big niche. I tried to retrofit an old bicycle with new gears and lights which was not possible. At least my physical condition benefits as it is pretty hard work to ride.