THE LOW-TECH ISSUE ------------------

Too often the answer to a problem posed by technology is a new technology. Electric vehicles promise to save us from auto emissions caused by internal combustion engines, but they carry their own environmental impacts from the lithium, cobalt and other minerals mined for batteries.

We can eliminate paper used for printing by moving information online to the cloud, but the supercomputing centers — the physical machines that house and serve it all — account for about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

In this section we explore how we can solve problems without rushing to the newest technology. For example, ensuring we have safe and accessible sidewalks is critical to reducing transportation emissions. School libraries offer access to information without the cloud, a truth we have forgotten in our rush to put a Chromebook in every backpack. We can extend the lives of older-tech gadgets, whether those are steel bicycles or wooden guitars. Kids can have fun offline using bows and arrows (some of the most primitive tools around).

Not all technological advances are bad, of course. Many of us are alive today thanks to medical technology, and adaptive technologies (like motorized wheelchairs) liberate many of those whose impairments would otherwise limit their mobility. And not all low-tech solutions are free of environmental impacts. We might enjoy roasting marshmallows around the fire, but our lungs pay a steep price.

We hope that when you put down this magazine you’ll find yourself inspired to critically examine how you use technology — and how you might not.