Cheap Gas, Saving Green and not Going Green
It’s hard to admit this to the world, but i think a lot less about driving today than I did in July and August when oil hit it’s all time high around $150 per barrel. As gasoline prices moved past $5 a gallon, my trip to visit friends and family went from about $8 to over $15, just for gas. When the reward for doubling up with the wife and taking one car on these visits approaches and surpasses the cost of a lunch at the nearest drive thru, it’s time to reconsider. Giving up the convenience of being able to change plans, was worth saving $15. Today with the world financial system collapses and gasoline prices following suit, I’m thinking more about saving green, as in US Dollars and less about going green.
Reconsider I have. I have reduced trips and even bought a bike for both exercise and for the short 1-2km trip to the local shop. It was important before gasoline hit $5, when it was easier to savor the reward of going green by reducing your use of single passenger fossil fueled vehicles. If I could swap money for saving the planet while getting more exercise and using the car less, the choice is simple. This is what I was convinced of in August and September. Today it’s November 1st and truth be told, i’ve only used the bike once or twice to get to the store and it’s too uncomfortable for a trip longer than about 10 minutes each way. Gas is down and some bad habits are back.
Forgive me for going on about this, i’m sure most have considered these issues over the last year, but i wanted to focus on today. Today gasoline prices are back under $3 per gallon and i already have found myself ready to make a trip in the car, much more rapidly than just 2 months ago! Fortunately I’ve been able to keep myself from running out and still bundle my trips together. It’s amazing how much the price of oil seems to affect not just my attitude towards the resource and the environment, but also my behavior. Don’t give up the fight to conserve. Using less resources that emit CO2 is helping the planet and it’s likely helping you save some money too.
Tags: Cheap Gas, gas prices, high gas prices, low gas prices
November 24th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I concur with your feelings on gas prices relating to helping the environment. I liken it also to the way that you can use low energy LED light bulbs to replace their higher energy burning counterparts.
You can checkout our selection of LED light bulbs at IndustrialLEDs.com.
While the upfront cost is higher, they actually pay for themselves in the long run. Also you don’t have to change them as often, saving time… and time is money.
November 25th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Not to worry, OPEC will keep cutting production until they get prices back up again. Most are too busy doing the happy dance at the pumps to notice what OPEC is up to. Not enough credit is being given to the high gas prices this past year and it’s serious damage on our economy and society. That one factor alone has caused serious stress in both individuals and businesses. A record number of homes and jobs have been lost as a direct result. And, while we are doing the happy dance around the lower prices at the pumps OPEC is announcing cuts to manipulate the prices upward again. We must get on with becoming energy independent.We can’t take another year like this past. There is a wonderful new book out about the energy crisis and what it would take for America to become energy independent. It covers every aspect of oil, what it’s uses are besides gasoline, our reserves, our depletion of it. Every type of alternative energy is covered and it’s potential to replace oil. He even has proposed legislative agenda’s that would be necessary to implement these changes along with time frames. This book is profoundly informative and our country needs to become more informed and move forward with becoming energy independent. Green technology would not only provide clean cheap energy it would create millions of badly needed new jobs. The Book is called The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence NOW. Our politicians all need to read this book. http://www.themanhattanprojectof2009.com
Check out what a company called “Better Place” has underway
http://www.greenchipstocks.com/articles/shai+agassi-project-better+place/312
December 16th, 2008 at 10:39 am
I have reduced trips as well.
Last year I spent in Europe and I noticed that people use their cars much less than in US. Actually my main transport there was a bike and I loved it. Of course bikes can’t substitute cars but they have some advantages sometimes we forget about. Bikes are underestimated!