Saving By Spending
Ran across the following quote in Gas Guzzlers Go Green on ForbesAutos.com:
Tax deductions notwithstanding, at current gas prices it could take a decade or more to recoup the premium you’ll pay for a hybrid SUV, depending on how much you drive. What helps to justify the cost is the notion that in owning a hybrid vehicle, you are reducing humanity’s dependence on a non-renewable resource, the mass consumption of which is damaging the environment and lowering our standard of living (through toxic pollution and global warming). my emphasis
While I appreciate the acknowledgment by Forbes of the need to reduce our dependance on non-renewable resources, I find somewhat ironic this notion of saving through, essentially, spending. It’s not unsurprising considering this quote comes from a car magazine (they can’t after all suggest that people NOT drive), but I’ve always been confounded by the logic that justifies a purchase because you’ve just “saved” 50%. In reality, of course, you’ve just spent 50%.
The same goes for this quote, considering you’re not really helping the situation by buying a hybrid car. You’re still increasing demand because there’s one more car in use. Reducing demand requires more people riding bicycles, walking to work, or taking the bus or train or trolley.
For this reason, carbon offsetting doesn’t really work as most people imagine either. “Offsetting” carbon does not reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as long as you’re offsetting only your airplane flight or your car. Reducing carbon, or reducing fuel dependancy requires an actual reduction in output, not just less of an output.
Buying a new hybrid car doesn’t reduce the amount of fuel being consumed or the amount of carbon dioxide being released; while it may reduce the amount a comparable car would produce, the net amount produced by all cars in use is still increasing. If everyone were to immediately replace their current vehicle with a hybrid car, then yes, we might see a reduction in carbon dioxide output or fuel consumption.