I think a more accurate title of Deb Chachra’s book “How infrastructure works” would probably have been “Reflections on Infrastructure.” The title hints at a more systematic examination of infrastructure. This book wasn’t that. Instead, it was a nicely put together set of reflections about infrastructure. Still a very nice read – just not what the title might suggest.
Here are 5 things I took away:
(1) The word infra means below or beneath. Infrastructure is a collection of the many systems below the surface that makes our life possible. It is, by nature, transparent. When it works, we just see right through it.
(2) Essential infrastructure goes from luxury to utility to a political right. The internet is a great example of this. It started as a luxury, then became a utility, and is on its way to becoming a political right.
(3) The challenge with addressing climate change until a few years ago was that our carbon emissions were directly tied to our consumption – more consumption meant more fossil fuels burnt. As societies advance, their energy needs grow. So, addressing climate change directly meant advocating a regression in lifestyle.
However, thanks to the incredible advances in renewables, we can now think of fossil fuels as a transition state. They were very useful while they were around. But we get to experience a future where energy is more abundant than ever before. <1% of the energy from the sun would comfortably meet all of humanity’s energy needs.
(4) The marvelous Dinorwig power station/electric mountain in Wales is a great example of how we are capable of creating elegant sustainable solutions for our energy needs. More in this post.
(5) “If you don’t schedule time for maintenance, your equipment will do it for you.”
Reading this book has greatly increased my appreciation for hidden infrastructure systems all around me. This book has had the kind of impact great educators have in our lives – it has changed how I “see.”
Thanks Prof Chachra.
