Are we conserving yet? Are we conserving yet? When will we get there?

Best. Gather. Article. Title... Ever!

I think that when Gasoline gets to around $6.00 a gallon most will start to think about the price.

Last year, just days after Katrina, we travelled back to PA from MI's upper penninsula; while gas was selling around $3.30-3.40/gallon. We cut our speed to 55mph from 70mph (MI interstate speed limit) and noticed our mileage improved from about 25 mpg to 30-35mpg.

We observed that the only others, who also cut back their speed to 55mph, were a few motor homes! Virtually everyone else on the interstates appeared to be more interested in "getting there fast" ... rather than in saving money, or conserving gasoline.

Last winter, we used oil-filled mobile electric "radiator" heaters as our primary source of home heating, and our oil hot-air furnace as our secondary source ... except on those really cold days when the radiator heaters couldn't
provide enough heat. Since electricity rates hadn't increased (percentage-wise) near as much as heating oil, it made financial sense to do so.

Being retired and having to live on a very limited income is what motivates us to "conserve". But essentially, we try to conserve money ... not environmental resources. That we conserve both is gratifying, but not intentional.

We now drive less ... combine multiple trips. When we do travel long distance, we try to stay in one location longer; i.e. rather than spend more time on the road. To cool our home, we use fans more and air-conditioning less. And to reduce the amount of hot water, I shower instead of taking baths. It's all a matter of conserving money. Conserving natural resources is incidental.

Great comments! All of the drivers in my house drive at the posted speed limit and if they were lowered, we would abide by them.

With the latest BP oil disaster it was announced that states across the U.S. would see oil supplies down by about eight percent. Using that as an illustration, I talked to my children about ways they could cut their own driving down by at least eight percent.

We are all trying.

Rick, if gas hit $6 / gallon I think siphoning/stealing, fuel hoarding, and other less-than-charming behaviors would fire up in a big way.

Wow Dan - that is a marked increase in mpg! Interesting that for you conserving money results in conserving fuel...wonder if others find that outcome as well.

*grin* it wrote itself Jonathon.

Sorry Diana, didn't mean to miss you as we crossed replies. Does your whole family have a goal to reduce driving by 8%? What suggestions did you give your kids, and which ones seemed to be the ones they could accept?

I own a small business that is as green and socially responsible as it can be. It's not easy being green but I think it's the only way to be. Ultimately it costs more, but, I am noticing more and more consumers are demanding it and willing to pay more. Some ways we are green and socially responsible: organic and fair trade coffee, corn starch plastic, recyle, buy local, pay more than minimum wage, etc.. I think we as consumers have a lot of power. But, it takes a lot of determination to go against the current of our mass consumption oriented society.

P.S. I have noticed less Hummers on the road lately ; )

Why conserve gas?
To keep oil companies in business longer?
To put off finding alternative fuels?
To stay tied to the middle east longer?
These tongue in cheek questions are something to think about though. I'd be willing to bet that if out of nowhere all cars got twice the mileage, gas would cost the same, and oil company profits would rise. It's all rigged anyway.
I get cynical on this issue sometimes because I remember the issue to economize, drive less, was to reduce pollution.
The real lessons from the 70's wasn't to conserve, it was how tied we were to the middle east (oil). They wanted to punish us with an embargo, and did. I almost can't wait until there is no more oil over there, then we will do something different.
So in a somewhat insane joke closing, I say suck it up, use as much as you can, fast as you can!
Thanks for the article, and chance to rant.......;-)

You dont even know...
Conserving?
How about not being able to go anywhere u dont HAVE to go or not being able to take your kids anywhere fun.

I seriously don't think gas price has much to do with drivers' habits of conserving or not. I conserve gas when it was $1/gal. I am also a hard-core recycler, but that's another discussion.

I think if you are a environment-conscious person, you would conserve energy anyway. If you don't care what happens to the Earth, you won't conserve anyway. I do agree that some people will start to conserve gas when they feel the pain in their wallets, but I still see many people making short and unnecessary trips everyday.

John S. - Why conserve gas? Because it is a limited natural resource that took forever to form, and can be consumed in minutes.

You make a good point, Kat: it is hard to go against the grain, but maybe it can become the norm? I'm not sure.

John S. something tells me you're not alone thinking about that. There's a commentary on MPR's Your Voice Conserving fuel is a political and patriotic act when the author states, "The more gas I use the more need for foreign oil and the more likely we will send troops to another Middle East country in the future. " so he cuts back.

Can you elaborate on that Joyce H.? Do you mean you're in a position where you're conserving by default, because of a lack of car or funds?

I wonder, Selene N., if we can chart some of the changes made in the 70s. Was there a reduction in travel due to costs? Car-pooling? Maybe I just answered that question and reaffirmed your point *grin*. Have you written an article about your recycling?

It's weird how nobody has mentioned taking the bus. If the frequently packed-to-standing buses in this area are any indication, more and more people are choosing that option.

Service could definitely be improved to serve more people and to serve them more frequently, reliably and faster. The demand seems to be there.

If your area is not served/underserved by public transport, it's a perfect time to write to policymakers about the issue. There's certainly plenty of fodder to support an argument for service improvements.

Good point, Luke. Although the bus I take is usually full, I can think of a quick handful of people I know who say they would take the bus if the schedule suited them better or if busses ran as reliably on time as trains.