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if you make consumption more efficient then you effectively make it less expensive and so people do it more Will that really be a big factor in petroleum use?
by zizee 13y ago
if you make consumption more efficient then you effectively make it less expensive and so people do it more
Will that really be a big factor in petroleum use? My driving is not dictated by the cost of Petrol (not yet anyway). I am not going to start driving twice as much if my car suddenly only uses 50% as much fuel.
- sunsu 13y agoYou need to be thinking more macro: energy production via oil rather than, say, coal...China switching from bicycle s to gas scooters...etc
- habosa 13y agoYou won't drive twice as much, but that's not the only use case for petroleum. Consider how much more people would fly if airline prices went down due to cheap gas. Or think about how many more gas engines will be used to power other tasks if gas is cheap and plentiful.
- AnthonyMouse 13y ago> Will that really be a big factor in petroleum use? My driving is not dictated by the cost of Petrol (not yet anyway). I am not going to start driving twice as much if my car suddenly only uses 50% as much fuel. Plenty of people might buy a large hybrid SUV if its fuel consumption was closer to that of a conventional compact car. Fuel cost goes into the calculation of whether to drive instead of taking the train, or carpool, or how much you're willing to pay in rent to live closer to where you work (or to mass transit), or how much you're willing to sacrifice in fuel to get home sooner, or whether to take a road trip, etc. etc. It's also not all about cars. Coal and petroleum are used to generate electricity and heat homes. Make it cheaper to move the thermostat five degrees in the direction of comfortable and people will.