Newer does not always mean better. Many of the newest, best technology is best applied in specific scenarios.
Although they may have higher, impressive output, using the right tools for the right job is still appropriate. While taking advantage of new technology, it’s important to consider where older, possibly less expensive techniques would be better.
Here are a few old technology options that have delivered great results, either the same way they did in the past or with a new look at their efficiency.
Water Cooling For Cities & Systems
Liquid cooling is an important part of computing and the tech industry at large. Whether you’re cooling a gaming computer or a data center, chemical solutions or local water supplies are often used to transfer heat.
The effect is a bit more complicated than throwing water on something hot. Water cooling systems work by sending cooler water through pipes and transferring heat.
When the cooler water passes hotter systems, the heat is transferred to the water and carried away. At a well-calibrated speed, the water can cool enough to continue its job without requiring too much extra energy.
In extreme temperature systems, refrigerators or chillers are installed as part of the pipe systems and can cool the water consistently. It’s a balancing act since electricity or another power source is used to power the chiller.
Water Cooling For City-Wide Heating & Cooling
When done well, these cooling techniques are more effective than air conditioning in many situations. The ENGIE heating and cooling system help the Marseille area maintain lower-cost temperature control using similar principles.
The water used by ENGIE is pumped from old coal mines. Since coal has little use in the area and the mining operations have ended, the water techniques once used to flush coal sources have found a new use.
These staples of mining technology–currently controversial in many countries because of carbon emission debates–can have a greener application. While the miners aren’t picking away at coal and aren’t filling their lungs with dust, the work continues.
This has an effect on cleaner living and jobs. One debate around coal mining in countries such as the United States of America involves finding work for miners who lack other applicable skills.
While there are certainly political pressures in place, systems such as ENGIE offer ways to wind down mining operations while providing financial assistance and give miners an opportunity to retrain.
If you’re interested in other ways to apply greener technology at lower costs, contact an environmental technology professional to discuss other options.
Photo by Vadim Sherbakov on Unsplash.