Rebound Effect

The rebound effect occurs when improvements in efficiency lead to an increase in consumption, offsetting the expected gains. For example, if a car becomes more fuel-efficient, drivers might choose to drive more often or farther because it costs less to fuel. Thus, the overall energy savings can be reduced or negated by this increased usage. This concept highlights the complex relationship between efficiency and consumption, reminding us that simply being more efficient doesn't always mean we're using fewer resources overall.