Can an historic analysis of consumption patterns of different commodities in the U.S.Shed light on the consumption of energy used in homes and passenger cars? Can a review of pastpolicies to reduce or change consumption patterns provide insight or guidance in developing newpolicies for reducing energy use? In order to better understand energy conservation policies, wetake a brief look at the history in the US of consumption of different commodities, includingresidential energy, passenger car, household water, food, beverages and tobacco. While currentpolicy makers appear reluctant to pursue strategies to reduce absolute energy consumption, thereis a long history of government efforts to influence consumption of other commodities, through avariety of means, e.g., prohibition, exhortation, subsidy, regulation, and taxation. By reviewingthe trends in historic consumption we see examples of where policy has led to increases anddecreases in consumption, suggesting parallel strategies for promoting the long-termconservation of energy.
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