Consumer organizations consider it of importance to consumers that appliance and machines are made to operated as efficiently as possible, that homes are well insulated, that cars burn less fuel etc. Labour unions could use part of their wage-increase margin for programmes which lower the energy-intensiveness of consumption instead of asking for compensation for higher energy prices because, under many circumstances, efficiency improvements can provide a better standard of living than wage increases. Furthermore, in a number of cases energy-saving measures can lead to the creation of new jobs.
The energy consumed in producing a 12-ounce can of diet soda is 2,200 calories. The total food energy it contains is 1 calorie. The annual per capita consumption of soft drinks in the USA in 1989 was 176 litres (compared with 140 litres of tap water).
The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that to stabilize the world climate fossil fuel use needed to be cut by 60%. Say this were done and then say that the world's population shared the remaining fossil fuel equally. Each human being would get to produce 1.69 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually – which would allow you to drive an average American car nine miles a day. By the time the population increased to 8.5 billion, in about 2025, the limit would be down to six miles a day. Carpooling might leave about three pounds of CO2 left in your daily ration – enough to run a highly efficient refrigerator. Forget a computer, a TV, a stereo, a stove, a dishwasher, a water heater, a microwave, a water pump, a clock. Forget light bulbs, compact fluorescent or not.