Impact of Consumers on the World Trevor Wood 5/14/10

Product Production’s Impact The energy required to produce products must be taken into consideration when weighing the environmental costs. Production, transportation, assembly, and quality control of parts are all expensive steps in creating a product both fiscally and environmentally.

Prius With gas prices at $4 and with the $3150 federal tax credit that comes with the Prius. Owning a Prius for five years will only save one $400 over owning a Corrola.

Comparison A CNW marketing study called “Dust to Dust” determined the total energy used for a Prius and compared it to a Hummer H2. The Prius cost an average of $3.25 per mile driven over a 100,000 mile expected lifetime. The Hummer cost an average $1.95 per mile over a 300,000 mile expected lifetime.

Economics The price of a product usually dictates the amount of money spent to produce the product (not true of luxury goods). Gucci, Armani, Louis Vuitton, expensive because of advertising and product positioning. Expensive price tag is because it either directly or indirectly consumes a large portion of the earth’s resources.

Things that seem to good to be true… ….Usually Are The Prius’ battery has traveled over 10,000 miles before it even reaches the Toyota manufacturing plant. Prius original gas mileage was based on 55mph on the highway and a 3.3mph/second acceleration. Revised gas mileage puts it close to Chevy Aveo and Toyota Scion.

Sources: outdoes-hummer-in-environmental-damage/ outdoes-hummer-in-environmental-damage/ m/environmental_costs_of_buying_a_toyota_ prius m/environmental_costs_of_buying_a_toyota_ prius html html toyota-prius-mileage-gets-lower-and- higher