Rebound Effect

With improvements in the efficiency of resource use in machinery and equipment there should be a saving in resource consumption. However, the benefit of having a more resource efficient item of equipment or machinery often leads to the item being used more or in different ways, thereby not making as many resource savings as possible. For example, a 7% improvement in fuel efficiency might produce a 4% drop in fuel consumption. This is expressed as a 43% rebound effect (i.e. (7-4)/7 x 100), meaning that only 57% of perceived benefits have been achieved.