Practical Sustainability Strategies, 2nd Edition

CHAPTER 5Eco-Effective Versus Eco-Efficient: Sustainability Versus Being “Less Bad”

In 1973, the Organization of the Petroleum Export Countries (OPEC) proclaimed and oil embargo in response to the US decision to assist Israel in its war with Egypt. This embargo affected not only the United States but also its Western European allies. Although the United States was energy self-sufficient through 1950, it was now importing about 35% of its oil. Although this embargo was lifted the following year, the US administration was now concerned that something similar could happen again.

In 1975, the US Congress passed the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) standards to double the average then fuel economy of 13.5–27.5 miles per gallon (mpg) by 1985. These standards started at 20.0 mpg in 1980 and increased by 2.0 mpg each year until they reached 27.5 mpg in 1985. These standards remained the same for the next 25 years, after which they were increase in order to make the auto industry more efficient.

Making automobiles more efficient with respect to gasoline consumption is the way to go. It is critical that less oil be consumed as it is a non-renewable energy source with depleting inventory worldwide. To become more eco-efficient, we can increase the automobile fuel economy by, say, 50%, which will reduce the consumption of oil. But with growing economies in China and India, what if the number of automobiles in the world doubles. The total consumption of oil will continue to increase. ...