The thing is, as demand rises for the commodity in question, so does standard of living. Yes, with tap-water we use more water, but we’re cleaner, warmer, and drink adequate amounts of water.
If we found more efficient ways to make corn, for example, we could (and sometimes do) use it as a fuel for heating and energy production.
There will always be scarcity of something but eventually it’ll be things most people could happily do without because they have all the non-scarce stuff.
The thing is, as demand rises for the commodity in question, so does standard of living. Yes, with tap-water we use more water, but we’re cleaner, warmer, and drink adequate amounts of water.
If we found more efficient ways to make corn, for example, we could (and sometimes do) use it as a fuel for heating and energy production.
There will always be scarcity of something but eventually it’ll be things most people could happily do without because they have all the non-scarce stuff.
That’s how it works in theory. Alas, the reality is too much in the hubris.