this post was submitted on 26 Oct 2023
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[–] [email protected] 50 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (6 children)

I don't remember the name of the effect, but it seems to happen a lot of times when newer technologies makes things consume less. People end up consuming more, either by increase of size, duration of use of using more of the thing.

[–] [email protected] 33 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Yes! It's called Jevons paradox

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago

Wow it is like induced demand but for resources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jevons_paradox

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 year ago (2 children)

This isn't an example of that though, its just a result of deliberately terrible emissions regulation brought on by lobbying.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Yep, providing exemptions for vehicles under the weight threshold where a commercial driver's license is required is dumb.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Could you elaborate? Edit: I see, other people mentioned in the thread about the lobbies and efforts to mask emissions.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I can confirm. In 2023 despite having LED lightbulbs - we consume 7 more watts per hour per lightbulb than the average lightbulb did in 1546.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The lights back then probably weren't very bright were they?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

But they used very little electricity, almost none

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They also did jack shit for illumination, so...

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The average light bulbs in 1546 definitely did jack shit that's for sure.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah considering they didn't discover electricity until the 1700s then they didn't even invent one that lasted long enough to be practical until 1879.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

That's the joke isn't it? Just for historical context Michaelangelo completed the Last Judgement on the Sistine chapel in 1541, so like 5 years before 1546, and I don't think he had flashlights to help him with the lighting.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Vacuum cleaners are the classic example, IMO.

When introduced, they were supposed to make cleaning rugs take less time, freeing time and effort for other activities, but instead housewives just cleaned their rugs more often.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

Would means rugs are quite a bit cleaner now, so I would say the vacuum did its job.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

led comes to mind here with this explanation. extremely more efficient then most other light sources. but because it is so efficient we see led being used everywhere. and almost never turned of because people say it barely uses any power. also the operating time is so high that companies purposely put components behind the led that break so they can sell more. (similar what they did to the old light bulb)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

also the operating time is so high that companies purposely put components behind the led that break so they can sell more.

Could you elaborate with more detail, or share some links for articles that describe that?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Induced demand. If the option is there people will use it.