Gas conservation needed regardless of lower prices

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Friday, November 21, 2008 11:09:33 AM

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Gas conservation needed regardless of lower prices Monday, October 13, 2008
The Post -- Gas prices are on the decline, with Athens experiencing a typical inflated $3.19 per gallon yesterday, while the rest of Ohio enjoyed an average of $2.90. But flocking to the gas pump is not the answer for keeping prices low. While the decrease in oil prices is not purely based on a lower demand for crude oil, it does play a part. As demand goes down, there is a larger supply. With a larger supply, the price goes down. With peoples’ wallets stretching as $4 per gallon seemed imminent, the drop has probably been a welcome relief. But when the price is low, people become more comfortable falling into old habits. Whether it’s stocking up on gasoline in case the price skyrockets or being more casual about how much one drives, people aren’t as conscious of how much they purchase or use. In order to keep prices low, people need to keep the conservation mind-set. Yes, the gasoline is there and it’s 50 cents cheaper, but do you have to use it? It would be more cost- and fuel-efficie
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JT Moderator	Message Posted: 10/13/2008 9:29:20 AM	Ignore JT Report Abuse
	Monday, October 13, 2008 The Post -- Gas prices are on the decline, with Athens experiencing a typical inflated $3.19 per gallon yesterday, while the rest of Ohio enjoyed an average of $2.90. But flocking to the gas pump is not the answer for keeping prices low. While the decrease in oil prices is not purely based on a lower demand for crude oil, it does play a part. As demand goes down, there is a larger supply. With a larger supply, the price goes down. With peoples’ wallets stretching as $4 per gallon seemed imminent, the drop has probably been a welcome relief. But when the price is low, people become more comfortable falling into old habits. Whether it’s stocking up on gasoline in case the price skyrockets or being more casual about how much one drives, people aren’t as conscious of how much they purchase or use. In order to keep prices low, people need to keep the conservation mind-set. Yes, the gasoline is there and it’s 50 cents cheaper, but do you have to use it? It would be more cost- and fuel-efficient to continue our habits — which have helped decrease the amount of driving in the United States for the first time in 20 years — while reaping the benefits of the saved dollars. Visit The Post for full article

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ScottE Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:2,816 Points:882,550 Joined:May 2002	Message Posted: 10/26/2008 12:25:10 AM	Ignore ScottE Report Abuse
	KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AMERICA, CANADA & THE LOWER AMERICA'S
Don1222 Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,052 Points:120,455 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 10:45:09 AM	Ignore Don1222 Report Abuse
	What we really need are alternative fuels.
Pede Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,094 Points:147,230 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 10:01:11 AM	Ignore Pede Report Abuse
	Drill drill drill to be independent and keep our money in our country
bigwaverider Sophomore Author Orange County Posts:173 Points:52,205 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:59:33 AM	Ignore bigwaverider Report Abuse
	I bought a more fuel efficient vehicle and I am enjoying the savings. I have also been riding my bicycle more which is paying dividends in improved health. Lower blood pressure, weight loss and I just fell better. I have the greed of the oil companies to thank.
HawaiianGuy Champion Author Idaho Posts:1,374 Points:1,476,365 Joined:May 2003	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:58:19 AM	Ignore HawaiianGuy Report Abuse
	For people in large urban areas, take a look around you during rush hour at everyone else stuck in freeway traffic. What percentage of those cars STILL hold only the driver? And what percentage of the cars around you does this represent? I'm willing to bet that although people are driving more fuel-efficient vehicles these days, the percentage of driver-only cars has dropped very, very little. And this current situation isn't helping matters any.
jb107 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,786 Points:1,016,925 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:58:08 AM	Ignore jb107 Report Abuse
	If we go back to the old ways the prices will be right back up.
flatcoatfun All-Star Author Orlando Posts:651 Points:196,450 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:52:54 AM	Ignore flatcoatfun Report Abuse
	NO I've changed my habits and won't go back.
ramshot412 Champion Author Riverside Posts:11,954 Points:1,196,935 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:52:04 AM	Ignore ramshot412 Report Abuse
	You said it, kites0852.
fairchildd All-Star Author Kansas City Posts:867 Points:363,965 Joined:Aug 2007	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:50:13 AM	Ignore fairchildd Report Abuse
	absolutely - hopefully some of us learned a lesson
zmancbr Veteran Author Colorado Posts:267 Points:64,480 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:48:19 AM	Ignore zmancbr Report Abuse
	Makes sense!
kites0852 Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:1,204 Points:210,170 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:46:35 AM	Ignore kites0852 Report Abuse
	By the way, just to show I conserve, I fueled my vehicle (took 7 gallons 1 Oct). The last fill up was 1 August. Total miles driven - 175. I conserve as well.
wizzard3040 Veteran Author St. Louis Posts:395 Points:169,600 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:45:33 AM	Ignore wizzard3040 Report Abuse
	$USD finally has some legs...strength! That will do wonders...Funds seeking some core strenght/safety.
Dennis783 Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:5,608 Points:1,123,920 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:45:10 AM	Ignore Dennis783 Report Abuse
	true!
kites0852 Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:1,204 Points:210,170 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:44:18 AM	Ignore kites0852 Report Abuse
	Capped oil wells can be reopened as California did in 2005 ( http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47618 ). Again, uncapping wells closed when prices were lower is a better alternative to drilling. Capped wells are not typically located in hurricane prone areas (right on the water where the hurricanes generally make landfall). Opening the oil wells to reduce dependence on foreign oil while continuing to find alternative solutions to permanently remove the need for petroleum gasoline/diesel is better than continuing to pour money to terrorist nations (not all are, I realize) and take away their stronghold on us. Uncapping should not harm the environment nor lead to higher prices each hurricane season. It should also buy the time necessary for alternative fuel research and development. In addition, the time frame when production oil can be introduced into the market is much shorter than drilling new off the coasts. There are some calling for drilling, yet there is no guarantee the owners of those wells, once drilled, will sell that oil inside the U.S.A. when prices elsewhere may be higher allowing a greater profit to the owner(s) to sell outside the U.S.A. Then we have oil rigs off our coast that we do not get the production benefits of. If you don't believe they will sell higher elsewhere, take a look at the stock market fiasco, the dollar rules, period. Just drilling won't resolve the problem, there has to be stipulations one of which needs to be that the product drilled MUST remain in the U.S. markets, period. No export of it. But that is missing from the "drill baby drill" calls. We have the oil available with much less effort than drilling offshore in the Atlantic and the Pacific and a quicker date into production but it is being totally ignored, why?
Egaser Veteran Author Atlanta Posts:409 Points:163,515 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:40:28 AM	Ignore Egaser Report Abuse
	Right there with you Gerund1,preaching to the choir.
rbrowdersr All-Star Author Detroit Posts:955 Points:467,975 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:39:36 AM	Ignore rbrowdersr Report Abuse
	True statement.
NissanGirl Veteran Author Oregon Posts:302 Points:167,490 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:39:20 AM	Ignore NissanGirl Report Abuse
	I agree, Sentraholic. I see people whizzing past all the time. I can't understand why they can't give themselves an extra 5-10 minutes to get "there." We get on the freeway, my husband locks in the cruise at 55-60, and people pass us as if we were standing still. Slow down!!! It really does help conserve fuel.
Gerund1 Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,147 Points:828,105 Joined:Apr 2003	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:38:27 AM	Ignore Gerund1 Report Abuse
	We cannot afford, literally, to forget what the last few months have taught us about reducing unnecessary fuel use. As long as demand declines, the price of fuel will not spike so much. At least that is my fervent hope.
laddyboy62 Champion Author Riverside Posts:1,586 Points:995,310 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:36:33 AM	Ignore laddyboy62 Report Abuse
	doing my part...how about you?
Dr Gas Sophomore Author Twin Cities Posts:205 Points:97,545 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:35:34 AM	Ignore Dr Gas Report Abuse
	Has everyone frogot about the speculators? The ones that drove the price up to $150. Yes, reduction of use helped to bring down the price, but only a little. It was the credit crisis that brought the speculators away from using oil as a means to make quick fast money.
w4kh Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,665 Points:641,920 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:34:07 AM	Ignore w4kh Report Abuse
	Hmmmm... kinda what I've been saying for a long time. Of course, my speel adds the note about actively seeking alternative transportation paradigms - we NEED to get away from the single driver commute where ever possible... we need to conserve and find alternatives... and NOW is a good time to start!
Tanks_alot Veteran Author Rhode Island Posts:380 Points:52,910 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:33:38 AM	Ignore Tanks_alot Report Abuse
	We need to conserve while we push for more domestic energy production and alternatives.
hank1326 All-Star Author Los Angeles Posts:505 Points:127,480 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:32:45 AM	Ignore hank1326 Report Abuse
	Try walk, bike and public transportations, especially on weekends. Take care of little things like tire pressures and proper vehicle maintenance.
spunky4443 Champion Author Washington Posts:1,161 Points:457,830 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:31:58 AM	Ignore spunky4443 Report Abuse
	KEEP having your Spouses, push the car, alot of fuel is saved!!!!!
patbob56 Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:1,746 Points:360,675 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:31:56 AM	Ignore patbob56 Report Abuse
	yup
wizzard1222 Veteran Author St. Louis Posts:397 Points:705,725 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:31:11 AM	Ignore wizzard1222 Report Abuse
	What it's like to be a big Financial Bank= $10 BIILLION ! Here, take it...it's from your Uncle Sam!
kingpin6 All-Star Author Arkansas Posts:917 Points:229,800 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:29:43 AM	Ignore kingpin6 Report Abuse
	Important that we keep conserving. Don't go back to our old ways.
steveski Veteran Author Maryland Posts:484 Points:125,800 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:27:58 AM	Ignore steveski Report Abuse
	we still need to conserve tho. in may of this year, i cut my gas consumption down by 30% and then in sept, cut another 20% so i'm at about 50% what i was using before. i think if everybody cut 50% it would send a real hit to these greedy oil execs.
SeerLV All-Star Author Las Vegas Posts:537 Points:132,765 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:26:24 AM	Ignore SeerLV Report Abuse
	We must conserve or else remain at the mercy of the oil producers
Sentraholic Champion Author Maryland Posts:2,150 Points:506,465 Joined:Nov 2006	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:26:00 AM	Ignore Sentraholic Report Abuse
	Howsabout if, in addition to all the platitudes, you folks actually try to drive the speed limit for a change? I do, and I literally NEVER PASS ANYONE because you hypocrites are so obsessed on getting somewhere 11 seconds earlier you'll do 70 to get there.
nyacoub1 All-Star Author Chicago Posts:820 Points:60,355 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:25:23 AM	Ignore nyacoub1 Report Abuse
	this will drive the prices higher.
esquared Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:1,412 Points:631,925 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:24:44 AM	Ignore esquared Report Abuse
	And, unfortunately, checkum, most of them seem to drive Hummers, monster trucks and SUVs with zero passengers!
tigeriz Veteran Author Maine Posts:302 Points:73,145 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:24:19 AM	Ignore tigeriz Report Abuse
	In this day and age, the only way to fight back is to not take what OPEC is giving us and show that our demand of their precious commodity is decreasing. It should be execised with everyone from CEO to middle america to the guy who scrapes together less than minimum wage. Just about all of us are in this boat. I saw one of the older Hummers driving down the street. It's owned by a guy that own's 3 Lukoil gas stations in our capital city. It made me sick.
Yonkers111 Champion Author Scranton Posts:3,010 Points:218,110 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:24:12 AM	Ignore Yonkers111 Report Abuse
	Yes, we need to use less, but lower prices will not get it done. Higher prices will reduce consumption and encourage development of alternate fuels and vehicles. Lower prices are not good for the future.
steveski Veteran Author Maryland Posts:484 Points:125,800 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:23:25 AM	Ignore steveski Report Abuse
	nonsense! i don't think we'll see $4 gas anytime soon unless there's some major world crisis, like we invade iran or something stupid like that. then we will.
checkum Champion Author St. Louis Posts:1,121 Points:215,845 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:22:57 AM	Ignore checkum Report Abuse
	there will always be stupid people that think laws and conservation for only for others
steveski Veteran Author Maryland Posts:484 Points:125,800 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:22:29 AM	Ignore steveski Report Abuse
	we don't NEED to drill, we NEED to USE LESS.
gas_too_high Veteran Author Columbus Posts:487 Points:379,630 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:21:58 AM	Ignore gas_too_high Report Abuse
	Absolutely true, even if you don't live in an area that had gas shortages. We will see $4/gallon gas again and we need to be prepared.
steveski Veteran Author Maryland Posts:484 Points:125,800 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:21:55 AM	Ignore steveski Report Abuse
	well winter usage always tends to be low. i think prices will continue to slide until sometime next year.
no_monkey2002 All-Star Author Tallahassee Posts:859 Points:535,335 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:21:23 AM	Ignore no_monkey2002 Report Abuse
	theee Ole gas hogs are history....save a lot....keep in mind what goes up ,can come down....Weight Watchers..what goes on can come off ...but you must practice to keep it off.........OH>YEA !!
USAFA82 Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:1,526 Points:260,520 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:21:15 AM	Ignore USAFA82 Report Abuse
	We need to drill more of our oil and implement the Pickens Plan as soon as possible
Br549oks Champion Author Kansas Posts:3,907 Points:848,220 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:20:53 AM	Ignore Br549oks Report Abuse
	Usage will remain lower until the next holiday. Then the prices will rise again. The usual rollercoaster ride I am sure.
engellw Rookie Author Kansas Posts:1 Points:7,220 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:20:34 AM	Ignore engellw Report Abuse
	I just starting driving 120 miles a day for radiation treatments and have to for 2 more months. I can't help using so much gas right now. I am sooo glad for this price drop and hope it continues for at least 2 months but hopefully even longer. I also really appreciate this website. I want the cheapest gas price possible with all of these miles I have to drive.
unicornpmb Veteran Author Buffalo Posts:275 Points:30,835 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:20:34 AM	Ignore unicornpmb Report Abuse
	How true,but some people are slow to learn
AnObserver Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,614 Points:860,290 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:20:24 AM	Ignore AnObserver Report Abuse
	Absolutely ... what the recent price spike should have told us is that we need alternatives to fossil fuels
amacquarrie Veteran Author Nevada Posts:338 Points:78,210 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:20:00 AM	Ignore amacquarrie Report Abuse
	With commuting 45 min each way its just cheaper and easier to carpool...
eaglev All-Star Author Oklahoma City Posts:978 Points:332,145 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:19:54 AM	Ignore eaglev Report Abuse
	We've done about all we can. We need to Drill for our own oil so we can control our own destiny!!!
NavyEOD Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:1,961 Points:431,390 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:19:40 AM	Ignore NavyEOD Report Abuse
	We need alternative fuels.
iluna All-Star Author Colorado Springs Posts:503 Points:87,095 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:18:07 AM	Ignore iluna Report Abuse
	I have discovered this conservation thing is good for the soul & the pocketbook. I will continue down this same path probably from now on. My little guy is learning about alternate trasnportation & is learning to not be so wasteful. It's all good!
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:9,640 Points:719,335 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: 10/14/2008 9:17:58 AM	Ignore tomok Report Abuse
	Need to conserve fuel. Keep the price of fuel down, down, and down..... Drive a very high MPG vehicle, that is very reliable and has a reasonable cost. NO SUVs, Hummers or daily driver pickups......