There are over 2 million cars standing in front of red lights with their engines going. Then we have over 2 million times approximately 100 horsepower being generated as they are idling there, so that we have something like 200 million horses jumping up and down and going nowhere. Now, we have to count that in our economy when we begin to get down to what is the efficiency of the economy.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Fuller highlights the massive inefficiency of idling vehicles, comparing wasted horsepower to millions of horses working uselessly.
- In plain terms
- Idling cars waste a huge amount of energy that could be used productively.
- What can you take from it?
- Reducing idle time improves economic and energy efficiency.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How much energy is wasted in your daily commute?
- What systemic changes reduce unnecessary consumption?
Another view
The quote simplifies complex economic efficiency metrics to a single visual metaphor.
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