Energy Alternatives

What if the price of gasoline goes to $5.00 a gallon? What if the price of propane or natural gas gets so high we can't afford to stay warm or cook with it? What if heating oil prices go sky high? What if more people turn to electricity as an alternative, pushing those energy prices even higher? What if we can't afford to buy the energy to use our air conditioners in the summer heat?

What if... hot water, cooking fuel, electricity and home heat became more like luxuries instead of necessities?

With energy prices growing like weeds after a good rain, it's time for every frugalite to face it: Prices are not going down to stay any time soon. They'll probably continue to go up, maybe gradually, but maybe suddenly.

What can we do to keep from going bankrupt over the energy bill?

In lieu of outfitting our homes with passive solar power panels, we can use our own hands, feet and heads. We don't have to always plug it in to turn it on. We don't have to always buy the gas to go from place to place. We don't have to work several days of each month just to pay for energy to keep our homes comfortable and safe.

Here are a few ways to do it, and you'll probably think of more when you get started:

Hand cranked generators can run a radio, charge a cell phone, and give you emergency lighting - all with a little manpower on your part. That's quite the savings over plug-in radios, lamps and phone chargers!

Propane powered outdoor grills have become popular because they're more convenient than charcoal, but you may find yourself paying a premium price for that convenience. It would be wise to have a real charcoal grill or outdoor cooker. Get one as a backup if you don't want to use it now. The small ones are inexpensive and can be fueled with scrap wood, too, which may be the most important aspect in the overall picture. But... if you're where you can, a hole in the ground with a grill or piece of expanded metal over it works just as well, or even better for some things.

A human powered push lawnmower is frugal any time and if the price of gasoline goes much higher, it will be even smarter to own one. You may not want to mow an acre with one, but for a normal sized lawn, it takes the frugal prize. You'll also get good exercise and a peaceful time of it - good for the soul and the body as well as the pocketbook.

Bicycles, motorcycles, buses and human feet are a lot cheaper than automobiles.

If you don't know how to ride a bicycle, get one and learn.

A motorcycle may be a good option if you're in the right place and can ride one.

Vote for city transportation and use it whenever you can. Even if a bus pass goes up in price (and it will), unless you have unusual circumstances, it will cost less than operating a car.

Walking is a good health practice as well as good transportation. Don't decry the cost of good walking shoes! They're cheaper by far than a set of tires.

It can be fun to use candles sometimes instead of electric lights. Use a fan instead of the air conditioner; a blanket instead of the heater. If you have a fireplace, learn to cook on it and do it now and then in cool weather. Read a book instead of watch TV. Sing, even if you can't, instead of listening to the radio or stereo.

There's a lot more you can do if/when you're interested. If you look around at the things you do that cost you money in terms of paying for the utilities to operate them, work to find ways to substitute for less commercial energy use, at least part of the time.

Who knows? You might find the substitutes are so enjoyable that you don't need sustenance from the utility umbilical cord as much as you thought you did.