Maybe you’ve heard of the concept of “technology transfer”, the plan to transfer new advanced technologies from industrialized countries to developing countries. Our intuition tells us that technology transfer is not an easy process because new technologies are expensive, even for people who live in industrialized countries and have modest incomes. There may be many barriers to technology transfer, but that doesn’t prevent it from happening. In rapidly developing India, the first building-integrated solar panels are part of a new housing district in Kolkata. In fact, the entire housing district is built around energy-efficient principles.

While this housing project is not intended to serve the poor, it is a good indication that rising out of poverty doesn’t have to mean using more fossil fuels and abandoning energy efficiency. Maybe it is time for industrialized countries to follow the lead of industrializing countries.