https://me.timholthaus.com/tags/historic/Recent content in Historic on timeINGHugo -- gohugo.ioenFri, 10 Apr 2026 06:00:23 +0600https://me.timholthaus.com/posts/stories/20260410_jevons_paradox/Fri, 10 Apr 2026 06:00:23 +0600https://me.timholthaus.com/posts/stories/20260410_jevons_paradox/<h2 id="an-introduction-to-the-jevons-paradox">An introduction to the Jevons Paradox</h2> <p>William Stanley Jevons published <em>The Coal Question</em> in 1865, warning that improving the efficiency of coal‑powered steam engines might not reduce coal consumption; it could increase it because cheaper power would spread across more industries and households.<sup id="fnref:1"><a href="#fn:1" class="footnote-ref" role="doc-noteref">1</a></sup> <sup id="fnref:2"><a href="#fn:2" class="footnote-ref" role="doc-noteref">2</a></sup> His observation—that making a resource use more efficient can lead to <em>more</em> consumption overall, not less—has become known as the <strong>Jevons Paradox</strong>, often discussed today under the broader idea of “rebound effects.”<sup id="fnref:3"><a href="#fn:3" class="footnote-ref" role="doc-noteref">3</a></sup> <sup id="fnref1:2"><a href="#fn:2" class="footnote-ref" role="doc-noteref">2</a></sup></p>