Frequently asked questions
Why not convert everything into dollars?
Because dollar conversion requires judgment about what each physical effect is worth. True Cost Index is designed to stop before that judgment step.
Who funds this site?
True Cost Index is built and maintained by George Clay as a personal project. It receives no funding from industry, advocacy organizations, or any party with a stake in the items measured.
Is this an anti-fuel, anti-meat, or anti-industry site?
No. The site is a measurement framework. It reports physical quantities and avoids argumentative comparisons.
Why these four shapes?
Diesel, natural-gas combined-cycle electricity, chicken, and eggs cover four different measurement shapes: liquid fuel, electricity generation, single-output food, and continuous animal production.
Why these four launch items, and not coal, beef, or smartphones?
Launch items were chosen for low partisan baggage so the methodology could be read on its own terms. Items that draw strong reactions before measurement is read — coal, beef, smartphones, and others — are deferred until the framework has an established record.
Why no single overall score?
A single score requires choosing weights. Is one kg of CO₂ worth more or less than one liter of water? That is a values question, not a measurement question. The site provides the underlying quantities; the weighting is left to the reader.
Why do some pages say values are working values?
Version 2 still uses working values where source hardening is incomplete. Working values make the framework visible while leaving room for primary-source extraction and range hardening.
Why are some pollutants not given as headline numbers?
Some values are not properties of the item under the stated boundary. Diesel NOx and particulate matter, for example, depend on engine design, emissions controls, maintenance, and operating conditions.
Can values be compared across pages?
Readers can compare values if they want, but the site does not make argumentative comparisons. Functional units and boundaries must be understood before comparing any two values.
Can I suggest an item to measure?
Yes. Suggestions are welcome through the contact page. Items that meet the methodology's eligibility criteria — measurable in physical units and supported by credible lifecycle literature — are added as research time permits.