Buy more to save energy?

These days I read about rising oil prices, changing climate, how to avert the energy crisis and inflation on an almost daily basis. It seemed to be the common (probably hottest) topic on every one’s mind.

One of the tips that is being promoted to replace your old appliances with newer models as the newer ones consume less energy hence saving energy. One calculation that I wonder if anyone bother to compute if it cost more energy to make the new appliance (e.g. refrigerator) or to keep using the old one.  If everyone in the world replace their fridge this year to save 10% (just a hypo figure from my mind), how much demand will it generate to the fridge factories in China and how much energy will that factory consume to meet these surge in global demand?

I thought about this question because I am driving an 1972 Austin Mini which clocks over 8 km per litre. In view of the rising gas prices and climate concerns, should I scrap the car and replace it with a new fuel-efficient car like Honda Jazz? (Obviously, the most ideal option is to scrap the car and take public transport but that’s not my point of discussion in this blog).

Back to the above tip to replace old appliance with newer energy-efficient models, is that a economy-driven agenda by those coporations to keep their profits intact?