Kris De Decker

Kris De Decker is the creator and author of "Low-tech Magazine", a blog that is published in English, Dutch and Spanish. Low-tech Magazine refuses to assume that every problem has a high-tech solution. (Since 2007).
Creator and author of "No Tech Magazine". Short posts related to the same topics. In English. (Since 2009).
Articles and columns for "Energy Bulletin" (English) (now Resilience.org), "The Oil Drum" (English), "Scilogs" (Dutch), "nrc.next" (Dutch), "EOS" (Dutch), "Scientific American" (Dutch), "De Koevoet" (Dutch) and "Down To Earth" (Dutch). (Since 2009).
Co-author of the book "Energie in 2030" ("Energy in 2030"), a project of the "Rathenau Instituut", an organisation that advises the Dutch government on challenges related to science and technology. (2009 - 2011).
Freelance journalist for (among others) "Knack", "De Tijd" and "De Standaard", all newspapers and magazines in Belgium. In-depth articles on science, technology, energy and environment. Dutch language. (1996 - 2007).

How to Build a Low-tech Solar Panel?

By Kris De Decker, Low-Tech Magazine

George Cove, a forgotten solar power pioneer, may have built a highly efficient photovoltaic panel 40 years before Bell Labs engineers invented silicon cells. If proven to work, his design could lead to less complex and more sustainable solar panels.

October 21, 2021

How to design a sailing ship for the 21st century?

By Kris De Decker, Low-Tech Magazine

If we want to keep travelling and trading globally in a low carbon society, sailing ships are the obvious alternative to container ships, bulk carriers, and airplanes.

May 26, 2021

How Sustainable is High-tech Health Care?

By Kris De Decker, Low-Tech Magazine

Health care is one of the most important economic sectors in high income countries, but its environmental footprint is underreported and not often considered.

March 17, 2021

How and why I stopped buying new laptops

By Kris De Decker, Low-Tech Magazine

Not buying new laptops saves a lot of money, but also a lot of resources and environmental destruction.

January 5, 2021

How to Make Biomass Energy Sustainable Again

By Kris De Decker, Low-Tech Magazine

From the Neolithic to the beginning of the twentieth century, coppiced woodlands, pollarded trees, and hedgerows provided people with a sustainable supply of energy, materials, and food.

October 5, 2020

Thermoelectric Stoves: Ditch the Solar Panels?

By Kris De Decker, Low-Tech Magazine

Wood stoves can provide a household with thermal energy for cooking and for space and water heating. Wood stoves equipped with thermoelectric generators also produce electricity, which can be more sustainable, more reliable and less costly than power from solar panels.

June 9, 2020

Fruit Trenches: Cultivating Subtropical Plants in Freezing Temperatures

By Kris De Decker, Low-Tech Magazine

During the first half of the twentieth century, citrus fruits came to be grown a good distance from the (sub)tropical regions they usually thrive in. The Russians managed to grow citrus outdoors, where temperatures drop as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius, and without the use of glass or fossil fuels.

May 15, 2020

Too Much Combustion, Too Little Fire

By Kris De Decker, Low-Tech Magazine

The fire – which we have used in our homes for over 400,000 years – remains the most versatile and sustainable household technology that humanity has ever known. The fire alone provided what we now get through a combination of modern appliances such as the oven and cooking hob, heating system, lights, refrigerator, freezer, hot water boiler, tumble dryer, and television.

January 23, 2020