Everyone knows that disposable products are bad for the environment. But are durable goods that much better?
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) has been part of the first study to look at the total energy consumption embodied in durable goods, including all the energy required to use them.
“Durable goods like vehicles, electronic products and various appliances often require large amounts of energy to make and use during their long life. On top of that, something we often forget is that they frequently require several other products and services in order to use and maintain them,” says Gibran Vita.
Vita led the research as part of his doctoral work at NTNU’s Industrial Ecology Programme (IndEcol). He collaborated with colleagues from Yale University, IIASA in Vienna and University College London on the study.
“For example,” Vita says, “producing and using a car requires energy throughout its life cycle. It takes energy to extract metals and to assemble the car. To run the car requires…
