30 CHAPTER 2 Sustainability and Human Values
is the transition from incandescent light bulbs to com-
pact fluorescent light bulbs and light-emitting diodes
(LEDs) (Figure 2.3). These shifts are driven by both
policy and economics. In Australia, for example, tradi-
tional incandescent bulbs have been banned, and some
policy makers in the United States promote similar poli-
cies. In many places, electricity providers promote the
adoption of lower-energy light bulbs by households.
And many businesses have made the change on their
own, finding that the higher cost of the new bulbs is
offset by reduced energy costs within the first year or
two. Any long-term involvement in the condition of the
world must start with individuals—our values, attitudes,
and practices. Each of us makes a difference, and it is
ultimately our collective activities that make the world
what it is.- What is sustainable development?
- What is sustainable consumption? How is it
linked to a reduction in world poverty? - How do voluntary simplicity and technological
progress contribute to sustainable consumption?
One example of voluntary simplicity is car sharing.
Car-sharing programs, which are designed for people who
use a car occasionally, offer an economical alternative
to individual ownership. Car sharing may also reduce the
numbers of cars manufactured. Studies show that most
car sharers drive significantly fewer miles than they did
before they joined the program.
As people adopt new lifestyles, they must be educated
so that they understand the reasons for changing prac-
tices that may be highly ingrained or traditional. Formal
education and informal education are both important in
bringing about change and in contributing to sustainable
consumption. If people understand the way the natural
world functions, they can appreciate their own place in it
and value sustainable actions.
While some individuals choose sustainable consump-
tion and voluntary simplicity, many people do not. Many
equate these ideas with unnecessary sacrifice, and object
to the idea of compulsory reductions in consumption.
However, many scientists and population experts increas-
ingly advocate a shift to sustainable consumption now,
before it is forced on us by an environmentally degraded,
resource-depleted world.
Continued technological progress represents a
promising opportunity for maintaining high standards
of living while using fewer resources. One good example
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The incandescent light bulb has been used in the United States for over 130 years with little
change between the original made by Thomas Edison (a) and the modern bulb (b). However,
compact fluorescent (c) and light-emitting diode (d) technologies provide equivalent lighting
with a fraction of the energy consumption.
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