The BBC this morning is reporting a study from the UK Energy Research Centre that claims energy savings are being overestimated because of something it labels 'energy rebound'.

According to the BBC:

As people cut their bills by using more efficient devices, they tend to spend the extra money buying additional goods that cancel out some of the savings.

The example they give is of someone buying a fuel-efficient car and then making more journeys because it is cheaper to run and also because they believe that they are doing less environmental damage. 

There may be something in this, but the way it is currently being reported is deeply depressing because it will give those who believe that there is nothing to be done about climate change, C02 emissions, global warming and energy efficiency yet more reason to continue in their destructive ways.  It may even undermine those who are doing what they can by making them reappraise their efforts and perhaps pull back.

What is the answer?  Obviously we don't want this sort of work to be censored or for it not to be reported, so partly I suppose it's the tone of voice that I'd like to see considered more carefully. The challenge that faces us all is great enough without adding to it by diminishing what can be achieved.

Perhaps we should stop reporting energy-efficiency on consumer devices, so that people don't realise they are taking the environmentally efficient option - then they won't think this sort of negative report applies to them at all!