Sociological Definition
The term soft is not meant to be vague, speculative, or ephemeral, but rather sustainable, flexible, resilient, and benign. Soft technology impacts are generally seen to be more "gentle, pleasant and manageable" than high technology impacts. These impacts range from the individual and household level to those affecting the very fabric of society at the national and international level. More specifically, favourable socio-political impacts include:
- reduction in social conflicts and inequalities;
- reduction in population concentration;
- increase in employment, especially for the lower social classes;
- increase in the satisfaction of basic human needs;
- increase in consumer self-sufficiency; and
- increase in social participation and democratic processes.
The use of soft energy technologies, in conjunction with energy efficiency, and the transitional use of fossil fuel technology, go to comprise the soft energy path.
Read more about this topic: Soft Energy Technology
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