Video rental stores, telephone land lines, CDs and newspapers have all seen declines in the past few years, but 2010 may just be the year the final nail is driven.
Just as the last ever telegraph sent in 2006 was the closing of chapter, his is sad on many levels. I'm going to miss holding a newspaper in my hands, trying to refold it in the wind and messily correct a crossword mistake in pen (and, of course, recycling them after I'm done).
But two things that will be going out of style will not be missed:
"Gas-guzzling cars
Skyrocketing gasoline prices dominated headlines during most of the decade, and they remain volatile.
The Energy Information Administration estimates that crude oil prices will average around $77 a barrel for the fourth quarter of 2009, up from $42.90 in the first quarter. The EIA also projects prices will rise in 2010 to their highest point in more than two years: $81.33 a barrel.
Recent announcements by car manufacturers to mass produce fuel-efficient cars could help push consumers away from gas-guzzling vehicles.
According to the Department of Energy, the most efficient cars include the Honda Civic Hybrid, which gets 40 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 45 mpg on the highway, the Volkswagen Jetta and Golf (both run on diesel), which each get 30 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway, and the Toyota Prius hybrid (51/48 mpg).
Energy-inefficient homes and appliances
Ten years ago, shopping for home upgrades involved looking at a product's functionality and aesthetic. Now, there's another component: energy efficiency.
Today, the products most touted by manufacturers and retailers are those that are Energy Star certified and those that meet new federal environmental standards — most of which have higher price tags than their counterparts but help to lower heating and cooling bills.
The government is offering a federal tax credit of up to $1,500 on energy-efficient home upgrades through Dec. 31, 2016. But many are set to expire by Dec. 31, 2010; these include eligible insulation, roofs and windows and doors."
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