Urban Planet is a daily roundup of blogs from around the world dealing specifically with urban environments. We’ll be on the lookout for websites outside the country that approach themes related to urban experiences and issues.
It seems every month there is a new more fuel efficient car on the market. But according to a new report from the Worldwatch Institute, these efficiency gains are being overwhelmed by the growing number of vehicles on the road and the distances we are travelling in them. Production of passenger cars will reach an all time record of 66.1 million in 2012 – driven in large part by the no. 1 producer, China. At the same time, demand for electric vehicles remains weak. (National Geographic: Great Energy Challenge)
Image fromBuzreal
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4 comments
Sad, but predictable. Google Jevons paradox.
Because of the current economic slowdown (some say recession), the price of oil is low. It will stay low until either the economy recovers worldwide, or the supply is unable to keep up with the increasing demand for oil, especially from the far east.
A related phenomen not mentioned in this item is that people who tend to buy “fuel efficient” vehicles also tend to drive a lot more than if they had bought less fuel-efficient vehicles, thereby more than cancelling out the supposed benefits of the fuel-efficient vehicles. Same thing happens with those energy-efficient homes. People just end up occupying greater living space. Overwhelmingly, people give themselves all sorts of “free passes” to drive more, occupy more living space, whatever, because they are acting “ethically” in an area they deem important.
Good point, Samg. I met people who constructed super energy-efficient house, and insist keeping temperature at 17 in the summer and 25 in the winter.