Conserve Gas Without a Car: Hidden Costs Cover High Fuel and Energy Usage

Everyone agrees that we need to conserve gas -- some because they think we're running out, others because of a belief in global warming, and still others citing national security. The reason doesn't matter. What's surprising: we spend money on gas without realizing it, not just in our cars, but in our grocery stores and even when we make romantic gestures to our significant others. Would she want those dozen roses if she knew they used more gas than her new hybrid does in a week?

It's hard to see what we as individuals can do about gas usage. On a global level, each of us is pretty insignificant. Most of the companies we buy from in America are controlled from outside our borders: BP, Chevron, Citgo. And demand isn't just going up here in America, but also in China and India and other places throughout the world that are emerging world powers.

There are still things you can do as a citizen, and if you spread the word and get everyone around you to do them, together we can all bring those prices down and stop dumping combustion waste into the air.

The Obvious Things:

Drive less. This is the first and most obvious. But also, check your tire pressure and change your oil; both these are strong factors in the mileage your car gets. Combine your errands and forego the Sunday drive as well, and you'll notice that you're filling up less often. When you're stopped for more than a couple of minutes, go ahead and turn the car off (less than a couple of minutes, and you'll use more gas restarting than you saved).

Buy an efficient car. Of course, if you just bought an Escalade last year, you don't want to give it up. And that's fine -- after all, if you sell it, someone else will just buy and use it, probably at a much better price. But if you're in the market for a new car, looking for one that's easy on gas will go a long way toward saving you gas money.

The Surprising Things:

Buy local. Most produce is shipped in or trucked in from long distances. Why? Because even with the cost of transportation, strawberries grown in California are cheaper. This may change. Whether it does or not, looking specifically for locally-grown produce will ensure that you get good, fresh vegetables that haven't involved the use of gallons of diesel fuel to arrive on your breakfast table. And you'll be supporting local farmers, too, instead of huge conglomerate farms thousands of miles away.

Dump the flowers. Pineapples, bananas, and many other tropical plants are shipped in from South America. Recently, fresh flowers have also been shipped in from these countries. But there's a critical difference. Bananas come on a barge or cargo ship. Roses come in a plane because they are much more perishable. You'd be surprised at how much fuel is expended for that romantic American Beauty dozen! So don't buy the flowers. Have a lovely night out, or look for a wild bouquet made with local varieties. Better yet, buy her a live plant from a local nursery that doesn't ship in plants from abroad.

Read about new technologies. You can buy air conditioners today that are powered by the sun, and in Hawaii it's normal to have solar-powered water heaters that depend on oil and gas only in emergency -- and trust me, these suckers get warm! Every day, new alternative-energy-powered products are released on the consumer market. Keep up with them, and add them to your home when you can. Every alternative energy source you can find is going to contribute, in the long run, to the conservation of fossil fuels and the use of cleaner energy.

The Global Things:

Support alternate energy - including nuclear. Did you know that all the European Union countries use more nuclear energy than we do in America? Americans fear this relatively clean energy, partly because of the lingering fears of the Cold War and partly because of a movie called the China Syndrome. But we have never had a major nuclear accident. And we have hundreds of nuclear reactors run by the world's best technicians - on submarines and large Naval vessels. Nuclear, hydroelectric, wind, and solar power between them can replace enormous amounts of power currently generated with oil and other fossil fuels.

Assess your home. Do you have cold and hot spots in your house? You probably have insulation issues or leakage around seals in your house. With the rising cost of oil, electricity to heat and cool your home will also be growing pricey. Many electric companies will send you a professional to assess the insulation and sealing needs of your home, and they often do it for free. If you could halve your electric bill and add to the value of your house while making it more comfortable - it makes sense to invest a little money in sealant, insulation, and even double-pane windows.

Use electric and natural gas, not oil. More and more, people are switching to cleaner and more accessible forms of electricity, but a lot of homes, especially in the North, are still dependent upon oil. After sealing your home, consider switching out your oil for another form of power. You'll be thankful in the long run.